User:L'Aquatique/MarineFishList

The following is a list of marine aquarium fish species commonly available in the aquarium trade. It is not a completely comprehensive list; certain rare specimens may sometimes be available commercially yet not be listed here. A brief section on each, with additional links is provided.

Angelfish (Large)

These big beauties are luridly coloured and very interesting to watch, but not for the faint hearted aquarist. They need large aquariums and should not be kept in groups. Two angels might be kept in the same aquarium provided it is a large aquarium, they are properly acclimated as juveniles, and they are have very different colouring and body shape. However, because all Angelfish have essentially the same diet, mixing them is a feat that should be left to only advanced keepers. None are reef safe, and a potential owner should be aware that they need to have plenty of vegetable matter in their diet. They undergo major changes in colouration while maturing, and unless specified given descriptions are for adult specimens.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Bellus Angelfish	Genicanthus bellus	Yes	Moderate	Light blue all over. Exhibits strong sexual dimorphism- females have wide black bands, males' bands are orange. Max size 18 cm (7").
Blue Angelfish	Holacanthus bermudensis	No	Moderate	Blue Angelfish has an overall aqua hue with a yellow shimmer and yellow edges on the fins and scales. The Blue Angelfish does not have the striking blue crown or other blue highlights of the Queen Angelfish. Max size 45 cm (18").
Cortez Angelfish	Pomacanthus zonipectus	No	Moderate	Darkly hued with yellow stripes. Max size 46 cm (18").
Emperor Angelfish	Pomacanthus imperator	No	Moderate	Juveniles are black with blue-white spiraling; Adults are blue with yellow stripes, accented with white and black and a blue mask. Max size 40 cm (16").
French Angelfish	Pomacanthus paru	No	Difficult	Juveniles are black with 3 yellow vertically running stripes, may also display blue on pelvic fins. Adults lard black with with white vertical stripes. Max size 41 cm (16").
Gray Angelfish	Pomacanthus arcuatus	No	Easy to Moderate	Light grey with dark spots and bluish/grey mask over face. Closely related to French Angelfish. Max size 60 cm (26").
Half-Moon Angelfish	Pomacanthus maculosus	No	Easy	Blue with yellow splotch-like marking on side. Max size 50 cm (20").
Koran Angelfish	Pomacanthus semicirculatus	No	Moderate	Grey towards the face, becoming a navy blue towards the caudal fin with striking irridescent blue accents throughout. Max size 40 cm (15").
Majestic Angelfish	Pomacanthus navarchus	No	Difficult	Yellow sides and back, transitioning to blue towards the base of the caudal fin and face, with a bright blue streak across the chin. Max size 28 cm (11").
Passer (King) Angelfish	Holacanthus passer	No	Moderate	Very dark blue with yellow caudal fin and distinctive white stripe. Max size 36 cm (14").
Queen Angelfish	Holacanthus ciliaris	No	Moderate	Tan coloured with bright orange caudal fin and neon blue outlined fins. Max size 45 cm (17").
Royal Angelfish	Pygoplites diacanthus	No	Expert	Orange and blue striped with dark blue dorsal fin and lemon yellow caudal fin. Max size 25 cm (10").
Japanese Swallow Angelfish	Genicanthus semifasciatus	Yes	Moderate	Black and tan striped back with yellow blaze beginning at the mouth and tapering off towards the centre of the side, with light blueish grey underside. Has distinctively shaped tail resembling that of a swallow. Max size 21 cm (8").

Angelfish (Dwarf)

Although Dwarf Angelfish are smaller and generally more manageable than their larger counterparts, they still have some specific care requirements. They are omnivores, but plenty of vegetable matter, preferably in the form of macroalgae, should be provided for their grazing pleasure. Their suitability for reef tanks is hotly debated, so add at your own risk. The only possible exception to this is the Flame Angelfish, which is generally considered safe. However, for obvious reasons it should not be put into tanks with expensive decorative macroalgae.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Coral beauty Angelfish	Centropyge bispinosus	With Caution	Easy to Moderate	Reddish body with blue back and orange fins. Max size 10 cm (4")
Eibli Angelfish	Centropyge eibli	With Caution	Easy to Moderate	Tan coloured body with vertical brown stripes and large distinctive black splotch covering the back of the fish, including the caudal fin. Max size 15 cm (6")
Flame Angelfish	Centropyge loricula	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Vivid orange-red with vertical black stripes and blue patches toward the end of the dorsal and anal fins. Max size 15 cm (6").
Orange-back Angelfish	Centropyge acanthops	With Caution	Moderate	Dark blue with golden yellow blaze running from the face down the dorsal fin, with a colourless caudal fin. Max size 8 cm (3").
Half-black Angelfish	Centropyge vroliki	With Caution	Difficult	Anterior is gray to pearly white with orange accent around eye, posterior is deep black. Max size 12 cm (4")
Herald's Angelfish	Centropyge heraldi	With Caution	Moderate	Completely lemon yellow, with a brown marking around the eye. Max size 10 cm (4")
Lemonpeel Angelfish	Centropyge flavissima	With Caution	Difficult	Bright yellow with distinctive dark semicircle by operculum. Max size 14 cm (5")
Barred Angelfish	Centropyge multifasciata	With Caution	Difficult	White fish with vertical black stripes. (Or is it a black fish with vertical white stripes?) Max size 12 cm (4").
Potter's Angelfish	Centropyge potteri	With Caution	Easy to Moderate	Similarly coloured to the Coral Beauty, but with a blue body and reddish fins. Max size 10 cm (4")
Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish	Centropyge argi	With Caution	Moderate	Blue colored body with an orange yellow head. Max size 8 cm (3").
Rusty Angelfish	Centropyge ferrugata	With Caution	Difficult	Tan coloured body with dark spots and a reddish tint around the anal fin. Max size 10 cm (4").

Anthias

Although Anthias resemble damsels in shape and size, the two should never be confused. Where damsels are the goats of the Saltwater world, Anthias (also called "Fairy Basslets") are finicky and many starve to death in captivity. In the wild, they eat zooplankton, and will not accept anything but in the aquarium. They also need to be fed nearly constantly, three times a day at least. The best way to ensure the health and longevity of an Anthias is to attach a refugium where you can grow copepods to "drip" into the display tank. Unlike many other saltwater aquarium inhabitants, they can be kept in groups.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Bartlett's anthias	Pseudanthias bartlettorum	Yes	Difficult	Back and face light yellow, underside pink with a swallowtail-shaped caudal fin. Max size 9 cm (3").
Bicolor Anthias	Pseudanthias bicolor	Yes	Difficult	Similarly shaped and coloured to to Bartlett's Anthias, but with a slightly more rounded back. Max size 13 cm (5").
Cooper's Anthias	Pseudanthias cooperi	Yes	Difficult	Orange back and finnage with white patch below the mouth running down toward the anal fin with pink sides. Max size 14 cm (5").
Diadem Anthias	Pseudanthias parvirostris	Yes	Difficult	Pink fish with yellow streak on top of head running along the lateral line. Caudal fin is red with yellow tips. Max size 7 cm (2").
Orangehead Anthias	Pseudanthias heemstrai	Yes	Difficult	Pink underside with orange back and mask, dark red splotch on caudal fin, along with iridescent blue anal and pelvic fins. Max size 13 cm (5").
Redbar Anthias	Pseudanthias rubrizonatus	Yes	Difficult	Tannish-pink with a single vertical red stripe and a dorsal fin with the skin between the rays pulled back like on a lionfish. Max size 12 cm (4").
Lyretail Anthias	Pseudanthias squamipinnis	Yes	Difficult	Also known as Sea Goldie. Orange with lyre-shaped caudal fin. Max size 15 cm (6").
Squareback anthias	Pseudanthias pleurotaenia	Yes	Difficult	Red back and pink underside with distinctive blue square shaped marking and blue fins. Max size 20 cm (7").
Stocky Anthias	Pseudanthias hypselosoma	Yes	Difficult	Orange back with cream colored underside. As its name suggests, slightly stockier than other Anthias. Max size 19 cm (7").
Threadfin Anthias	Pseudanthias huchtii	Yes	Difficult	Olive green with black caudal fin and red stripe running from the eye to the pectoral fin. Max size 12 cm (4").

Bass & Groupers

In this exceedingly large group of fish, few are considered proper aquarium inhabitants, for various reasons including diet and size. Be aware that Basses vary greatly from species to species, and do appropriate research before purchasing a specimen. Many unsuspecting hobbyists bring home cute little specimens of popular aquarium fish such as the Lyretail Grouper, only to realize several months later that they don't have the resources to care for a meter-long that may cost hundreds of dollars a month to feed.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Blue Dot Grouper	Cephalopholis argus	No	Moderate	Deep black to tan fish with blue spots throughout. Max size 50 cm (20").
Blue Line Grouper	Cephalopholis formosa	No	Moderate	Dark tan with horizontal blue stripes that aren't particularly straight. The caudal fin has more of these stripes, and they radiate from the base of the fin out to the tips. Max size 34 cm (13")
Chalk Bass	Serranus tortugarum	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Blue iridescent body with distinctive black topside that is interrupted by small vertical blue stripes. Max size 8 cm (3").
Golden Stripe Soapfish	Grammistes sexlineatus	No	Moderate	Chocolate brown with light yellow horizontal stripes. Similar in patterning to C. argus (with exception to the coloration). Max size 30 cm (11")
Harlequin Bass	Serranus tigrinus	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Very striking black and white checkerboard pattern all over, with very long tapering nose. Max size 29 cm (11")
Leaflip Grouper	Pogonoperca punctata	No	Moderate	Sports a large, hinged mouth and is tan with little spots. Has brown triangle shaped markings down the spine. Max size 35 cm (13").
Miniatus Grouper	Cephalopholis miniatus	No	Moderate	Orange to red with large blue spots throughout. Max size 45 cm (18").
Panther Grouper	Cromileptes altivelis	No	Difficult	Gorgeous pure white fish with black spots and a distinctive "hump" on the head, leading to a popular common name, "Humpback Grouper". Max size 75 cm (30").
Painted Comber	Serranus scriba	No	Easy to Moderate	Large fish with classic Bass body, Silvery in colour with vertical tan stripes and a blue underside. Max size 36 cm (14").
Red Flag Grouper	Cephalopholis urodeta	No	Moderate	Very similar to C. miniatus, but the caudal fin is dark. Max size 28 cm (11").
Lyretail Grouper	Variola louti	No	Moderate	Silver back changing to red around the underside, darkening toward the caudal fin, which is lyre-shaped with neon green edging. Max size 80 cm (31").
Spotted Grouper	Epinephelus summana	No	Moderate	Dark black fish with many light green spots all over body, increasing in number toward the posterior. Max size 52 cm (20").

Basslets & Assessors

Basslets and Assessors are small, long bodied fish strongly resembling Anthias. Their care requirements, however, are closer to those of damsels. They should be kept individually, and generally not with other fish of similar shape and colour. Feeding is easy: they will generally eat any meaty foods offered. Good water quality should be maintained at all times.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Black Cap Gramma	Gramma melacara	Yes	Moderate	Purple with a black mask beginning at the mouth and ending at the base of the dorsal fin. Max size 6 cm (2").
Blue Assesor	Assessor macneilli	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Entirely navy blue with white edging of the dorsal fin. Max size 7 cm (3").
Royal Gramma	Gramma loreto	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Purple head and anterior, abruptly changing to yellow about halfway down the body. Has black marking through eye and another on the dorsal fin. Do not confuse with the Brazilian Gramma or the Bicolor Dottyback. Max size 5 cm (2").
Brazilian Gramma	Gramma brasiliensis	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Very similar to the royal gramma, however the change from purple to yellow occurs farther down the body and the black markings are absent. Max size 6 cm (2").
Yellow Assessor	Assessor flavissimus	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Bright lemon yellow with peach fringing of the dorsal fin and around the eye. Max size 7 cm (3").

Batfish

Batfish are gorgeous and striking fish that are not common in aquaria for one major reason: they get huge. A two or three hundred gallon tank is needed for one, minimum, and larger is better. They start out as tiny, manageable-looking cuties, which often fools aquarists into purchasing them for their small aquariums. However they quickly grow to gargantuan proportions, and require large amounts of food as well as space, so beware. They are not reef safe and should be fed plenty of large meaty foods. Batfish change greatly as they grow, however the potential aquarist is most likely to see them in their juvenile form, so that is the description of the colouration here. They all have generally the same body shape: disk-like with tall dorsal and anal fins, similar to a Freshwater Angelfish.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Orbiculate Batfish	Platax orbicularis	No	Difficult	Brown with generally random black markings resembling a rotting leaf. Max size 50 cm (20").
Dusky Batfish	Platax pinnatus	No	Difficult	Dark black body completely edged by distinctive yellow. 45 cm (17").
Teira Batfish	Platax teira	No	Difficult	Silver with black fins and a black stripe across the face. Max size 70 cm (27").

Blennies

Blennies are popular aquarium fish, and for good reason. They are peaceful, colorful, and many are downright helpful. For example, the aptly named Lawnmower Blenny will keep your green algae well trimmed and presentable. With the exception of Fang Blennies, Blennies are totally reef safe- in fact a reef environment is really best for them because they can be shy and the intricate rockwork of a reef provides ample hiding spaces. They are omnivores and should be fed a varied diet of frozen or live foods and plant matter. Blennies don't have teeth or functional jaw, so food must be big enough for them to swallow whole.
Blennies are often confused with Gobies, but there is an easy way to tell the difference. Blennies have a single dorsal fin that runs down the length of their bodies- gobies only have one.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Spinyhead Blenny	Acanthemblemaria spinosa	Yes	Moderate	Brown checkered body with distinctive yellow frills on head. Max size 2 cm.
Bicolor Blenny	Ecsenius bicolor	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Characterized by the striking contrast of a blue head and upper torso followed by a yellow orange lower torso. Max size 11 cm.
Blackline Fang Blenny	Meiacanthus nigrolineatus	No	Easy to Moderate	Yellow bodied with bright blue mask and dark black line running from the eye to the caudal fin. Max size 9 cm.
Bundoon Blenny	Meiacanthus bundoon	No	Easy to Moderate	Black with lighter patch over caudal fin. Very distinctive swallowtail caudal fin. Max size 8 cm.
Canary Fang Blenny	Meiacanthus oualanensis	No	Easy to Moderate	Similarly shaped to M. bundoon, but canary yellow. Max size 5 cm.
Lawnmower Blenny	Salarias fasciatus	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Tan and brown striped and spotted with iridescence. Max size 14 cm.
Midas Blenny	Ecsenius midas	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Although often seen yellow, this fish has the ability to change its color to match the surroundings. It has a very distinctive swallowtail shaped caudal fin. Max size 13 cm.
Red Lip Blenny	Ophioblennius atlanticus	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Black to grayish yellow with red patch over mouth. Max size 19 cm.
Red Sea Mimic Blenny	Ecsenius gravieri		Moderate	Sky blue anterior fading to yellow towards the tail, with a black stripe running the eye to the base of the caudal fin. Max size 8 cm.
Sailfin Blenny	Emblemaria pandionis	Yes	Moderate	Very similar to S. fasciatus but slightly darker and with a much larger dorsal fin. Max size 5 cm.
Tail Spot Blenny	Ecsenius stigmatura	Yes	Moderate	Drab tan all over with dark spot at the base of the caudal fin and a light yellow line through eye. Max size 6 cm.
Two-Spot Blenny	Ecsenius bimaculatus	Yes	Moderate	The top half of this fish is black towards the front and fades to white closer to the tail. The bottom half is white with two distinctive black spots right under the pectoral fins. Max size 4.5 cm.
Diamond Blenny	Malacoctenus boehlkei	Yes	Moderate	Gray with black splotches, and a yellow mask. Shaped more like hawkfish than a blenny. Max size 6.5 cm.
Convict Blenny	Pholidichthys leucotaenia	Yes	Moderate	Black eel-shaped body with a distinctive white stripe running down the body. Adults are yellow and black striped. Max size 34 cm.

Boxfish & Pufferfish

Members of the family Tetraodontidae, Boxfish, Puffers and their cousins Cowfishes and Porcupinefishes have the distinction of being the "last" fish- the most recent to evolve. Some of their ancestors crawled up on land and eventually became frogs, lizards, and everything else, including Humans, that currently walk the terrestrial world. If that isn't fascinating enough for you, Boxfish and Puffers are very also personable and quirky pets, for the prepared.
They are not thought of as an ordinary aquarium tank mate, but are quickly gaining popularity. They do pose a hazard in the community tank however. They are capable of releasing a very powerful toxin which can kill other fish and in some cases, the boxfish itself. They generally only use it when threatened or dying, but can become disturbed easily with aggressive tank mates or overcrowded aquarium. Generally they are reef safe, though they will pick at invertebrates if not fed well enough.
Many people think puffed up Pufferfish, like in the picture, are cute, but an owner should never subject their pet to this as they are often unable to expel the air should they be out of the water. To prevent this, never remove a puffer from the water.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Helmet Cowfish	Tetrasomus gibbosus	Caution	Expert	Tan with dark speckles and brown spots at the base of the caudal fin. Max size 30 cm.
Longhorn Cowfish	Lactoria cornuta	Caution	Expert	Grayish tan with very distinctive "horns" near the eyes and under the caudal fin. Max size 46 cm.
Yellow Boxfish	Ostracion cubicus	Caution	Expert	Usually seen as a juvenile, bright yellow with little black spots. When it reaches maturity it is gray with yellow lines and pink lips. Max size 45 cm.
Scribbled Boxfish	Ostracion solorensis	Caution	Moderate	Dark navy blue with iridescent "scribbling" and spots. Max size 12 cm.
Dogface Pufferfish	Arothron nigropunctatus	Caution	Moderate	Tan with a brown mask over eyes and other over mouth. Also has yellow markings on the pectoral and dorsal fins. Max size 33 cm.
Porcupine Pufferfish	Diodon holocanthus	No	Moderate	Tan with slightly darker spots throughout and very conspicuous spines that lay flat against the body. When puffed up, the spikes stand up and make the fish completely inedible. Max 50 cm.
Spotfin Porcupinefish	Diodon hystrix	No	Moderate	White and covered in small black spots. Max size 91 cm.
Sharpnose Pufferfish	Canthigaster rostrata	Caution	Difficult	Cream, with reddish purple topside and underside, and yellow on the caudal fin. Max size 12 cm.
Valentine Pufferfish	Canthigaster valentini	Caution	Moderate	Tan with giraffe-like spots and dark brown markings that resemble saddles over the back. Has distinctive bright green eyes. Max size 11 cm.

Butterflyfish

Butterflyfish, when properly cared for, can make beautiful and distinctive additions to fish only marine aquariums. Often large and usually not suited for those with smaller aquariums, nor those of the faint of heart. Nevertheless, when fed a varied diet and kept in pristine conditions, Butterflyfish will usually thrive. That is, if you choose the right species. With Butterflyfish, usually a fish is going to survive, or it's not. Many species simply cannot be kept in captivity, and potential keepers must take care to only purchase those species that have a fighting chance. Also, be very picky about which specimen you choose- any sign of mishandling should be taken as a red flag.
The following species are relatively hardy and an experienced aquarist should have no trouble with them, so long as they are diligent.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Copperbanded Butterflyfish	Chelmon rostratus	Caution	Difficult	Silver with black edged gold stripes, a long nose, and a black eyespot on the dorsal fin. Max size 20 cm.
Bannerfish	Heniochus diphreutes	No	Moderate	Sometimes referred to as the "Poor Man's Moorish Idol" because of the resemblance. White and black striped with yellow caudal fin and a dorsal fin that forms a long, thin banner. Max size 21 cm.
Longnose Butterflyfish	Forcipiger flavissimus	No	Moderate	From the pectoral fins forward, black above the eye and silver below, with an exceptionally mouth. Past the pectoral fins, bright yellow with an eyespot on the anal fin. Max size 22 cm.
Raccoon Butterflyfish	Chaetodon lunula	No	Moderate	Very distinctive and complexly colored. Is mostly yellow with a darker saddle and a black and white mask. Max size 20 cm.
Redback Butterflyfish	Chaetodon paucifasciatus	No	Moderate	White with black stripes that form chevrons on the side and a bright red patch on the posterior. Max size 14 cm.
Merten's Butterflyfish	Chaetodon mertensii	No	Moderate	White with fuzzy black stripes and a yellow posterior. Also has a black line through the eye. Max size 12.5 cm.
Teardrop Butterflyfish	Chaetodon unimaculatus	No	Moderate	Completely yellow with the exception of black stripes at the base of the caudal fin and through the eye, and an eyespot directly below the dorsal fin. Max size 20 cm.
Latticed Butterflyfish	Chaetodon rafflesii	No	Moderate	Very similar to C. unimaculatus, but with scales that are brighter than the body, forming a lattice-like pattern, and lacking the eyespot. Max size 18 cm.
Pacific Double Saddle Butterflyfish	Chaetodon ulietensis	No	Moderate	Silver with two dark saddles over the body (plus a dark mask) and yellow dorsal and caudal fins. Max size 15 cm.
Sickle Butterflyfish	Chaetodon falcula	No	Moderate	Often confused with C. ulietensis, but easily distinguished. The saddles are wedge shaped rather than stripes and don't reach the underside. Overall more yellow coloring. Max size 20 cm.
Threadfin Butterflyfish	Chaetodon auriga	No	Moderate	White anterior with thin black stripes at 45 and 120 degree angles from the head. Posterior is yellow, but with a black wedge shape where the stripes meet the yellow coloring. Max size 23 cm.
Tinker's Butterflyfish	Chaetodon tinkeri	No	Moderate	White with small black spots, a yellow mask, and a black dorsal fin. Max size 15 cm.
Masked Butterflyfish	Chaetodon semilarvatus	No	Moderate	Bright lemon yellow with subtle vertical orange stripes and a black splotch behind the eye. Max size 23 cm.

Cardinalfish

One of the few groups of shoaling fish commonly available to marine aquarists, Cardinalfish are nocturnal and tend to be quite shy. They require meaty foods and will often not take prepared foods such as flakes and tablets. For the best chance of success, keep a wide variety of frozen foods on hand. In the event of a hunger strike, they will almost always take adult brine shrimp. As far as other care requirements they are similar to damsels: not picky. So long as they are properly acclimated, they tolerate a wide range of parameters. Watch the ammonia/nitrite, as they are particularly sensitive to these chemicals.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef	Care Level	Description
Banggai Cardinal	Pterapogon kauderni	Yes	Moderate	Black and silver striped with very tall fins and many white spots. Max size 8 cm.
Flamefish	Apogon maculatus	Yes	Moderate	Bright red with black spots at the base of the caudal fin, under the second dorsal fin, and on the operculum. Max size 11 cm.
Orange-Striped Cardinalfish	Apogon cyanosoma	Yes	Moderate	Light yellow with iridescent yellow horizontal stripes. Max size 8 cm.
Pajama Cardinalfish	Sphaeramia nematoptera	Yes	Moderate	This fish displays three distinct color bands: the first, stretching from the nose to base of the first dorsal fin, is a tannish peach. The second, a thin band which runs down the center of the fish, is chocolate brown, and the posterior of the fish is white with brown spots. Max size 8.5 cm.
Ringtailed Cardinalfish	Apogon aureus	Yes	Moderate	Yellow body with a black stripe (ring) at the base of the caudal fin and iridescent blue streaks across the eye. Max size 14.5 cm.
Blackstripe Cardinalfish	Apogon nigrofasciatus	Yes	Moderate	Body completely covered in horizontal yellow and black stripes, with red fins. Max size 10 cm.
Ochre-Striped Cardinalfish	Apogon compressus	Yes	Moderate	Almost identical to A. nigrofasticus, but with blue eyes. Max size 12 cm.

Chromis

Chromis are perhaps the ultimate reef fish. Generally peaceful, most species are easy to take care of and quite colorful. Like anthias, they will school, but in many cases this tendency disappears as they age. They are, nevertheless, at least ambivalent with their own species, as well as completely reef safe. Like Damsels and Anemonefish, their close cousins, Chromis are omnivores and will accept most foods offered. A flake staple is usually sufficient, but for best color and health supplement with frozen and live foods when possible.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Black and Gold Chromis	Neoglyphidodon nigroris	Yes	Difficult	Mostly silver, but with a large patch of yellow around the caudal fin and a distinct black line on the operculum. Max size 13 cm.
Half and Half Chromis	Chromis iomelas	Yes	Moderate	Completely black from the middle of the dorsal fin to the nose, completely white from the middle of the dorsal fin to the end of the caudal fin. Max size 8 cm.
Black bar Chromis	Chromis retrofasciata	Yes	Moderate	Yellowish with bright blue iridescent pelvic fins and a distinct black bar at the base of the caudal fin. Max size 4 cm.
Blue Chromis	Chromis cyaneus	Yes	Moderate	Bright blue all over, although lighter toward the front. Max size 15 cm.
Green Chromis	Chromis viridis	Yes	Easy	Generally bluish green, but some specimens may be spring green. Max size 8 cm.
Limbaughi Chromis	Chromis limbaughi	Yes	Easy	Dark navy blue with bright yellow spot that covers the dorsal fin and much of the posterior. Max size 10 cm.
Spiny Chromis	Acanthochromis polyacanthus	Yes	Easy	Dark chocolate brown, slightly lighter around the pectoral fins. Max size 14 cm.
Sunshine Chromis	Chromis insolatus	Yes	Easy	Rather drab tannish-orange throughout. Max size 16 cm.
Damselfish	Chromis chromis	Yes	Easy	Completely black. Despite the name, this is actually a chromis, in fact, it is the chromis. Max size 25 cm.

Clownfish

Clownfish, more technically known as Anemonefish, are the classic aquarium fish. Both hardy and attractive, they are perhaps best known for their symbiotic relationship with Sea Anemones, a relative of coral. In the wild, Anemonefish are always found with a host, leading many potential keepers to believe that an anemone is necessary to keep them. Anemonefish are easy to keep, but their cnidarian counterparts are inordinately finicky and need high light levels, and luckily Anemonefish will thrive without them. Aquarists often find that Anemonefish will host in other things, from corals and Feather Duster Worms to powerheads and other equipment. Anemonefish care is identical to that of Damselfish, as they are actually very closely related.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description	Max Size
Cinnamon Anemonefish	Amphiprion melanopus	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Dark orange body becoming black towards the caudal fin, with a bright white stripe running from the front of the dorsal fin to the pectoral fins and golden colored fins.	12 cm (4.72 in)
Clarkii Anemonefish	Amphiprion clarkii	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Black or dark brown with bright yellow finnage and two thick white stripes running perpendicular to the body.	15 cm (5.9 in)
False Percula	Amphiprion ocellaris	Yes	Easy	Bright orange or yellow body with white stripes. Fins are orange, rimmed with black. A. ocellaris from northern Australia are black.	11 cm (4.3 in)
Maroon Clownfish	Premnas biaculeatus	Caution	Easy	Maroon to bright red with three very thin white stripes.	17 cm (6.7 in)
Percula Clown	Amphiprion percula	Yes	Easy	Nearly identical to A. ocellaris, but the white stripes are edged with black.	11 cm (4.3 in)
Pink Skunk Anemonefish	Amphiprion perideraion	Yes	Moderate	Pink to orange body with one white stripe over the operculum and another running from the tip of the snout, along the back to the dorsal fin. All fins are white.	10 cm (3.9 in)
Tomato Clownfish	Amphiprion frenatus	Yes	Easy	Bright red with a single white stripe running from the front of the dorsal fin to the bottom of the head.	14 cm (5.1 in)
Saddleback Anemonefish	Amphiprion polymnus	Yes	Moderate	Similar to A. ocellaris and percula, but the second stripe does not extend the full with of the body and instead resembles a saddle.	13 cm (5.1 in)
Sebae Anemonefish	Amphiprion sebae	Yes	Moderate	Black or dark brown body from above the pectoral fin, yellow below. Has two white stripes, the second resembling that of A. polymnus.	16 cm ( in)

Damsels

All Damselfish can be considered reef-safe, sometimes excluding larger, more aggressive Dascyllus varieties. Some Damselfish will host in anemones like clownfish. Most Damselfish are aggressive and difficult to catch once you put them in an aquarium.

Damselfish change gender as they grow larger and older. Small damselfish are ungendered. Eventually, they become males if no males prevent them from doing so. 1 or sometimes 2 males live with a female and guard over the eggs. Females are the largest fish and dominant over the males and juveniles. They will not allow other females into an area they have claimed as their territory without a fight. They may not allow new males or juveniles, either. Aggression increases with each change.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Azure Damsel	Chrysiptera hemicyanea	Yes	Easy	A beautiful fish with neon blue on its body and a gold underside and caudal fin. Easy to care for and does best on a good diet.
Blue damsel	Chrysiptera cyanea	Yes	Easy	An orange tail indicates breeding success. The males have orange on their tails while the females do not. This fish is hardy and aggressive.
Blue and gold damsel	Pomacentrus coelestis	Yes
Blue velvet damsel	Paraglyphidodon oxyodon	Yes
Bluefin damsel	Neoglyphidodon melas	Yes	Easy
Domino damsel	Dascyllus trimaculatus	Yes	Easy	also known as the three spot damsel, this fish is easy to care for, but is also very aggressive. The fish is black except for three distinct white spots that fade as the fish ages.
Fiji blue devil damsel	Chrysiptera taupou	Yes	Easy	This striking blue damsel is one of the most popular beginner fish. Like other damsels, it is very hardy, and very aggressive when mature.
Four stripe damsel	Dascyllus melanurus	Yes	Easy	The four stripe damsel is a perfect beginner marine fish as it is very hardy. This fish is highly territorial and is best suited for a semi-aggressive to aggressive tank.
Garibaldi damsel	Hypsypops rubicunda	Yes	Easy to Moderate	These are temperate fish and require cooler water. They are much larger than most other damsels.
Honey head damsel	Dischistodus prosopotaenia	Yes
Jewel damsel	Microspathodon chrysurus	Yes	Easy
Lemon / yellow damsel	Pomacentrus moluccensis	Yes	Easy
Marginated damsel	Dascyllus marginatus	Yes	Easy	The marginated damsel is noted for blue fins as well as the yellow head and white body. This fish is hardy like most damsels and is also highly aggressive when mature.
Neon damsel	Pomacentrus alleni	Yes
Orangetail damsel	Chrysipetra cyanea	Yes	Easy
Pink smith damsel	Pomacentrus smithi	Yes	Easy
Sergeant major damsel	Abudefduf saxatilis	Yes	Easy
Springer's damsel	Chrysiptera springeri	Yes	Easy
Stark's damsel	Chrysiptera starcki	Yes	Easy
Talbots damsel	Chrysiptera talboti	Yes	Moderate This damselfish is somewhat a little more delicate than other. It does best in small groups in large tanks with good water quality and an SG of 1.026. Feed on a good diet for best results. Fairly peaceful.
Three stripe damsel	Dascyllus aruanus	Yes	Easy	Highly aggressive and territorial. Will harass fish many times its size. Best kept in an aggressive/semi-aggressive tank.
Tuxedo damsel	Chrysiptera tricincta	Yes
Two Stripe Damsel	Dascyllus reticulatus	Yes	Easy	the two stripe damsel is a very hardy fish. This fish is perfect for the beginner marine aquarist, as it can tolerate substandard water quality. This fish is highly aggressive, and requires many hiding places.
Yellow damsel	Amblyglyphidodon aureus	Yes
Yellowtail dascyllus	Dascyllus flavicauda	Yes
Yellowtail damsel	Chrysiptera parasema	Yes	Easy	The yellowtail damsel possess an all blue body with a striking yellow tail. This damsel is a good beginner fish as it is very hardy and can tolerate substandard water quality. This damsel is also less aggressive that some other damsel species.

Dragonets

Dragonets are often mis-categorized as gobies or blennies by fish sellers. They are bottom-dwelling fish that constantly hunt tiny invertebrates for food. Most starve to death in a marine aquarium unless you provide a refugium or place for the invertebrates to reproduce safely without any fish being able to reach them.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Mandarinfish	Synchiropus splendidus	Yes	Difficult	A brightly colored member of the dragonet family. Eats only copepods and will die in captivity without an adequate supply, which can only be had in very large, well established reef tanks
Red scooter blenny	Synchiropus stellatus	Yes	Moderate	Not a true blenny. Often only eats live copepods and amphipods.
Scooter blenny	Synchiropus ocellatus	Yes	Moderate	Not a true blenny. Often only eats live copepods and amphipods.

Eels

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Golden moray eel	Gymnothorax miliaris	May eat fish and shrimp	Easy to moderate
Snowflake eel	Echidna nebulosa	May eat shrimp if underfed	Easy	A pebble-tooth moray that generally eats crustaceans and similar.

Filefish

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level
Fantail orange filefish	Pervagor spilosoma	No	Easy
Colored filefish	Pervagor melanocephalus	Caution	Easy
Tassle filefish	Chaetoderma pencilligera	Caution	Easy
Clown filefish	Cantherhines dumerili	Caution	Easy

Gobies

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Diamond goby		Yes	Easy	"sleeper gobies"; borrow and sift sand constantly; very good algea eaters; 6-8"
Black clown goby	Gobiodon acicularis	Mostly	Moderate	Similar to Yellow clown goby, but black
Citron clown goby	Gobiodon citrinus	Mostly	Moderate	Can grow to up tp 3 inches in length
Engineer goby	Pholidichthys leucotaenia	Yes	Easy to Moderate	small burrowing goby
Green banded goby	Gobiosoma multifasciatum	Yes	Moderate	small burrowing goby with green vertical stripes
Red headed goby	Gobiosoma puncticulatus	Yes	Moderate	A small goby that can clean like the neon goby but is easily frightened. Often said to 'disappear' in a larger tank, as it never swims out into view.
Neon goby	Gobiosoma oceanops	Yes	Easy	A Caribbean cleaner species that sometimes eats larger parasites from other fish.
Yellow Watchman goby	Cryptocentrus cinctus	Yes	Moderate	A species of "watchman" or "shrimp" goby that can form a symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp
Yashia goby	Stonogobiops yasha	Yes	?	A species of "watchman" or "shrimp" goby that will form a symbiotic relationship with the red and white banded pistol shrimp, Alpheus randalli.
Yellow clown goby	Gobiodon okinawae	Yes	Moderate	small yellow fish that likes branching corals

Hawkfish

Attractive and relatively small, Hawkfish make excellent additions to fish only or FOWLR aquariums. With extreme caution taken, they could be kept in reef aquariums, but because of their propensity to eat small ornamental shrimps and other mobile invertabrates (usually leaving sessile invertabrates alone) they are not considered reef safe. Lacking a swim bladder, Hawkfish can often be found resting in crevices of rocks or among the branches of corals or gregonians. Hawkfish are easy to care for and not picky at all about water quality. A varied diet, including spirulina and small meaty foods like Mysis is recommended.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description	Max Size
Arc eye hawkfish	Paracirrhites arcatus	No	Moderate	Brown to yellow body with reddish dorsal fin, distinctive white caudal fin, and small semi-circle marking behind eye.	20 cm (7.9 in)
Flame hawkfish	Neocirrhites armatus	No	Easy to Moderate	Striking red body with black on fin tips and yellow lips.	9 cm (3.5 in)
Longnose hawkfish	Oxycirrhites typus	No	Moderate	White with red lattice-like markings resembling a grid. Nose is elongated and tissue between the spines of the dorsal fin is missing.	13 cm (5.1 in)
Spotted hawkfish	Cirrhitichthys aprinus	No	Easy to Moderate	Bright red with distinctive diamond shaped markings down back, becoming darker towards the topside of body.	12.5 cm (5 in)

Hogfish

Jawfish

Jawfish are burrowers and require a sandy substrate of sufficient depth.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Black cap jawfish	Opistognathus lonchurus	Caution	Moderate	Requires a 30 gallon tank and 3 inch substrate. Tank should remain tightly lidded. May eat small shrimp.
Dusky jawfish	Opistognathus whitehurstii	Caution	Moderate	Requires a 30 gallon tank and 3 inch sand substrate. Tank should remain tightly lidded.
Yellowhead jawfish	Opistognathus aurifrons	Caution	Moderate	Requires a 30 gallon tank and 5 to 7 inch soft substrate. Tank should remain tightly lidded.

Lionfish

Lionfish have venomous spines and should be treated with caution.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description	Max Size
Colored Volitan Lionfish	Pterois russelli	Caution	Easy to Moderate
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish	Dendrochirus brachypterus	Caution	Moderate
Volitan Lionfish	Pterois volitans	Caution	Easy to Moderate	Semi-aggressive; carnivore; Can grow up to 38 cm in length in captivity
Clearfin Lionfish	Pterois radiata	Caution	Easy to Moderate	Dark body with thin white stripes. Fins are long and there is little "webbing" between the spines.	24 cm
Luna Lionfish	Pterois lunulata	Caution	Easy to Moderate	White bodied with dark stripes and relatively webbed fins.	35 cm

Pipefish

(can be killed by stinging corals and anemones)

Pseudochromis & Dottybacks

Common name	Taxonomy	Care Level	Description
Australian multicolor pseudochromis	Ogilbyina novaehollandiae	Moderate
Blue flavivertex pseudochromis	Pseudochromis flavivertex	Moderate
Neon pseudochromis, Arabian dottyback or neon dottyback	Pseudochromis aldabraensis	Moderate
Bicolor pseudochromis	Pseudochromis paccagnallae	Easy to Moderate	resembles royal gramma in coloration. The bicolor pseudochromis is semi-aggressive and will defend its territory against fish several times its size. This fish is fairly hardy, and is a good beginner fish.
Purple stripe pseudochromis or diadema basslet	Pseudochromis diadema	Easy to Moderate
Indigo dottyback	Pseudochromis sankeyi	Moderate
Fridmani pseudochromis or Orchid dottyback	Pseudochromis fridmani	Easy to Moderate	community fish does well in most aquariums. is not nearly as aggressive as other dottybacks.
Sailfin pseudochromis	Pseudochromis veliferus	Moderate
Splendid pseudochromis	Pseudochromis splendens	Moderate
Springeri pseudochromis	Pseudochromis springeri	Moderate
Strawberry pseudochromis or purple psuedochromis	Pseudochromis porphyreu	Easy to Moderate

Rabbitfish & Foxfaces

Common name	Taxonomy	Care Level
Foxface	Siganus vulpinus	Easy to Moderate
Magnificent foxface	Siganus magnificus	Easy to Moderate
Rabbitfish	Siganus spp.	Easy to Moderate

Sharks & Stingrays

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Fiddler Stingray	Trygonorhina fasciata	No	Expert
Blue Spotted Stingray	Taeniura lymma	No	Expert	Tan with bright blue spots.
Round Stingray	Urobatis halleri	No	Expert
Spotted Caribbean Stingray	Urolophus spp.	No	Expert
Thornback Stingray	Platyrhinoidis triseriata	No	Expert
Coral Catshark	[[Atelomyceratus marmoratus	No	Expert
Epaulette Shark	Hemiscyllium ocellatum	No	Expert

Seahorse

It takes a special aquarist to maintain these delicate beauties. A potential keeper must be dedicated and willing to throw artistic creativity to the winds- as what seahorses need isn't always beautiful. They require taller tanks, live/frozen food, and many hitching posts, as well as very peaceful tankmates. In fact, beginners would be well-advised not to mix seahorses with any other species until they have more experience.
Seahorses found in stores are generally Captive Bred, but occasionally one might find a Wild Caught specimen. WC Seahorses should only be purchased by Seahorse experts who are going to breed them, as they tend to be finicky and most are endangered in the wild. CB Seahorses.
One of the main upshots of Seahorses is that many species stay small and can (in fact, some should) be kept in smaller tanks, making them idea for aquarists who are pressed for space or money.
Seahorses are among the few popular marine aquarium species that can be temperate. Species vary in their temperature requirement, so here an extra category has been added.
TR=Tropical ST=Sub-Tropical TM=Temperate

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Temp.	Care Level	Description
Brazillian Seahorse	H. reidi	Caution	ST	Difficult	Usually bright yellow, with a particularly long snout. Max size 17 cm.
Spotted Seahorse	H. kuda	Caution	TR	Difficult	Generally yellow, but can also range from tan to dark black. Max size 30 cm.
Great Seahorse	H.kelloggi	Caution	ST	Difficult	Light tan, with some darker specimens. Max size 28 cm.
Pot-Bellied Seahorse	H.abdominalis	Caution	TM	Difficult	Light colored with dark spots and a large abdomen. Max size 35 cm.
Pygmy Seahorse	H. bargibanti	Caution	TR	Difficult	White with pink (occasionally yellow) knobby protrusions. Max size 2.4 cm.
Short-Snouted Seahorse	H. breviceps	Caution	TM	Difficult	Grayish to tan with short snout and a spiny head. Max size 15 cm.
Tiger Tail Seahorse	H. comes	Caution	TR	Difficult	Varying colors with dark striped tail. Max size 18 cm.
Lined Seahorse	H. erectus	Caution	ST	Difficult	Dark colored with ligher belly and white ridges. Max size 19 cm.
White's Seahorse	H. whitei	Caution	TM	Difficult	Fuller bodied with a comparatively larger head. Max size 13 cm.
Dwarf Seahorse	H. zosterae	Caution	ST	Difficult	Similar to H. reidi but much smaller. Max size 5 cm.
Thorny Seahorse	H. histrix	Caution	TR	Difficult	Varying colors with distinctive spines all over body. Max size 17 cm.

Squirrelfish

Tangs

Tangs generally feed on algae, though there are a few carnivorous species. Most tangs will not tolerate other fish the same color and/or shape as them. They have a spine on their tails that can cut open other fish and unprotected hands. All tangs should be given plenty of swimming room and few tolerate a tank of less than 175 cm or 6 feet long.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Achilles tang	Acanthurus achilles	Yes	Difficult
Atlantic blue tang	Acanthurus coeruleus	Yes	Moderate
Blonde naso tang	Naso lituratus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Bristletooth tang	Ctenochaetus striatus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Chocolate tang	Acanthurus pyroferus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Desjardini tang	Zebrasoma desjardinii	Yes	Moderate
Eibli mimic tang	Acanthurus tristis	Yes	Moderate
Hippo tang	Paracanthurus hepatus	Yes	Moderate	Very prone to Cryptocaryon irritans. More tolerant of other tangs than most other species.
Kole tang	Ctenochaetus strigosus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Mimic tang	Acanthurus pyroferus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Naso tang	Naso lituratus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Powder blue tang	Acunthurus leucosternon	Yes	Moderate
Purple tang	Zebrasoma xanthurus	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Sailfin tang	Zebrasoma veliferum	Yes	Easy to Moderate
Scopas tang	Zebrasoma scopas	Yes	Easy to Moderate	Similar to the yellow tang in shape and feeding.
Yellow tang	Zebrasoma flavescens	Yes	Easy to Moderate	The yellow tang requires ample swimming room and plenty of algae to graze on. The tang will not tolerate another of its kind unless there is ample space for each tang to have their own terriotry. The tang requires high oxygen levels.

Tilefish

Though often categorized as Gobies, Tilefish are a separate species.

Common name	Taxonomy	Care Level
Blue-headed tilefish	Hoplolatilus starki	Easy to Moderate
Purple tilefish	Hoplolatilus purpureus	Easy to Moderate
Skunk tilefish	Hoplolatilus marcosi	Easy to Moderate

Triggerfish

While they are generally considered monsters that will chomp invertebrates, many will actually make great reef fish.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level
Blue jaw trigger	Xanthichthys auromarginatus	Yes; feeds on plankton	Moderate
Blue line trigger	Pseudobalistes fuscus	With Corals, Yes; but may eat other inverts	Moderate
Clown trigger	Balistoides conspicillum	Sometimes, according to the particular fish	Easy
Hawaiian black trigger	Melichthys niger	Yes; feeds on plankton	Moderate
Niger trigger	Odonus niger	Yes; feeds on plankton	Easy
Picasso trigger	Rhinecanthus aculeatus	Generally, no, since it feeds on Hard Corals, Crabs, and Echinoderms	Easy to Moderate
Pinktail sargassum trigger	Melichthys vidua	Yes; very gentle and feeds on plankton	Moderate

Wrasse

Some wrasse species are aggressive towards small fish and invertebrates.

Common name	Taxonomy	Reef safe	Care Level	Description
Carpenter's fairy wrasse	Paracheilinus carpenteri	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Moderate
Eight line wrasse	Pseudocheilinus octotaenia	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Easy to Moderate
Exquisite fairy wrasse	Cirrhilabrus exquisitus	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Difficult
Fine-spotted fairy wrasse	Cirrhilabrus punctatus	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Difficult
Four line wrasse	Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Easy to Moderate
Greenback fairy wrasse	Cirrhilabrus scottorum	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Difficult
Harlequin tusk	Choerodon fasciata	Generally, yes, but may eat shrimps	Moderate
Multicolor velvet wrasse	Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Moderate
Potter's wrasse	Macropharyngodon geoffroyi	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Difficult
Red-head fairy wrasse	Cirrhilabrus solorensis	Yes; feeds on tiny organisms	Difficult
Six line wrasse	Pseudocheilinus hexataenia	Yes	Easy to Moderate	small purple fish with six dark horizontal lines
Rhomboid Fairy Wrasse	Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis	Yes	Moderate	Medium sized (~5" max) Golden body with purple horizontal stripes on head

References