The Top 20 Saltwater Aquarium Fish For Beginners

The most iconic saltwater aquarium fish. Ocellaris Clownfish are those striking little fish with brilliant orange and white bodies and black-tipped fins that inhabit probably 99% of the saltwater tanks out there. They stay small, do great in a pair, are hardy, come in a variety of different color variations, and get along peacefully with most tankmates.

Ocellaris Clownfish are widely bred in captivity which has a number of benefits for the aquarium owner. Captive-bred fish are already adapted to life in an aquarium, will readily accept prepared aquarium foods, have a more mild temperament, and are generally easier for first-time saltwater tank owners. Keep clownfish singly or as a bonded pair, and avoid mixing multiple clownfish species in smaller community aquariums because they can become territorial.

Percula Clownfish are another excellent choice for first-time saltwater aquarium owners. They look very similar to Ocellaris Clownfish with the classic orange, white, and black coloration that makes clownfish so recognizable. They stay small, adapt well to aquarium life, and are hardy enough for new hobbyists when kept in a stable, properly cycled aquarium.

Like Ocellaris Clownfish, Perculas are commonly available as captive-bred fish which is always the best choice when possible. Captive-bred Percula Clownfish usually accept pellet, flake, and frozen foods quickly and are already accustomed to living in an aquarium. They can be kept singly or as a bonded pair, but avoid mixing multiple clownfish species in smaller tanks.

Skunk Clownfish are a fun alternative to the more common Ocellaris and Percula Clownfish. Instead of the familiar three white bars, Skunk Clownfish have a clean stripe that runs along the top of the body, giving them a unique look while still offering the same general clownfish personality that hobbyists love.

They are hardy, active, and generally adapt well to aquarium life, especially when purchased captive-bred. They will usually accept a wide variety of prepared aquarium foods including pellets, flakes, and frozen foods. As with other clownfish, they may become territorial as they mature, especially around a chosen corner, rock, or host anemone.

Pajama Cardinalfish are one of the best choices for a peaceful beginner saltwater aquarium. They have a unique pattern with a greenish-yellow face, bold dark band, and spotted rear half that makes them stand out without being overly active or aggressive. They are slow, peaceful swimmers and tend to hover around the rockwork rather than constantly racing through the tank.

These fish are great for community aquariums because they generally leave tankmates, corals, and invertebrates alone. They appreciate plenty of hiding places among the rocks and should be housed with other peaceful fish that will not outcompete or harass them during feeding. Pajama Cardinalfish can often be kept in small groups, provided the aquarium has enough space and hiding spots.

The Mandarin Dragonet is one of the most beautiful fish available to saltwater hobbyists, but it comes with an important beginner caveat: this is only a good choice when you can provide the right food source. Mandarins naturally spend their day hunting tiny crustaceans, especially copepods, from the rockwork and sand.

For beginners, only consider a captive-bred Mandarin. Being born and raised in captivity means they are nearly certain to accept prepared foods. Even then, an established aquarium with plenty of live rock and a healthy copepod population is strongly recommended. A Mandarin should not be treated like a typical first fish for a brand-new tank; choose this fish only after the aquarium is mature.

The Canary Blenny is a bright yellow fang blenny that brings a lot of color and movement to a saltwater aquarium. Unlike algae-eating blennies, Canary Blennies are planktivores and spend more time swimming in the water column looking for small meaty foods.

They are generally hardy, active, and reef safe, making them a good choice for many beginner community tanks. Captive-bred Canary Blennies are especially attractive because they are already adapted to aquarium life and usually accept prepared foods readily. Canary Blennies are fang blennies and may have a mild venomous bite used for defense; bites are rare, but it is worth knowing before reaching into the tank.

The Watchman Goby is one of the most entertaining beginner fish because of the unique relationship some species form with pistol shrimp. The shrimp maintains the burrow while the goby acts as a lookout, watching for threats and retreating into the shared home when needed.

Yellow, Pink-Spotted, and Blue-Spotted Watchman Gobies are common choices for aquariums. They tend to spend most of their time near the bottom of the tank, perched near a burrow or cave. They are usually peaceful toward other fish and make a great addition to community aquariums with a sandy bottom. Be sure to have a sand bed of at least 2-3" for burrowing and use a tight-fitting screen top or lid because gobies can be jumpers.

Now that they are widely available as captive-bred, the Striped Blenny makes a great addition to many saltwater tanks. They look great, won't harm corals, are generally peaceful toward tankmates, and don't get abnormally large.

They do have small mouths so small particle size foods work best. Being captive-bred, they will usually accept prepared aquarium foods quite easily. They are relatively high-energy and have a fast metabolism, so they should be fed small quantities of food multiple times per day for optimal health. Striped Blennies can be aggressive toward their own species and other fish with similar body shapes, so keep just one fang blenny per tank in most beginner aquariums.

One of the most overlooked beginner fish, the Chalk Bass or "Basslet" is a great choice because they stay small, are very hardy, and look awesome. When small, they are primarily electric blue and will gradually take on more orange coloration as they grow larger.

You should provide plenty of space among the rocks for the fish to hide and feel safe, but with a maximum size of around 3", they don't require a large tank to feel comfortable. They will not pick at corals or harm most fish, but may engulf small shrimp should the opportunity arise. Chalk Bass are hardy and adaptable, but they appreciate rockwork and caves where they can retreat when startled.

The Splendid Dottyback is a bold, colorful fish that can be a good beginner option when stocked with the right tankmates. Dottybacks are hardy, usually easy to feed, and spend much of their time moving through the rockwork looking for small meaty foods.

They can be territorial, especially toward other dottybacks or fish with a similar size and shape. For that reason, they are best added to aquariums with enough rockwork and tankmates that can handle a semi-aggressive personality. Keep only one dottyback per beginner community tank unless you are working with a known bonded pair or a much larger aquarium.

Lemon Damselfish bring a bright yellow pop of color to the aquarium and are hardy enough for newer saltwater hobbyists. Like most damselfish, they are active and quick to accept common aquarium foods.

The tradeoff is temperament. Lemon Damselfish can become territorial, especially in smaller tanks or when housed with timid tankmates. They are best kept in aquariums with plenty of rockwork and other semi-aggressive community fish that will not be easily bullied. Damsels are tough fish, but plan the stocking order carefully so they do not claim the whole tank before more peaceful fish are added.

The Pink Smith Damselfish is a hardy, active fish that can be a good choice for beginners who want a damsel with a more community-friendly personality than some of the more notorious species. It brings movement to the tank and will usually accept prepared foods quickly.

Like all damsels, it can still show territorial behavior, particularly toward similar fish or new additions. Provide plenty of rockwork and avoid housing it with very timid tankmates in smaller aquariums.

The Orchid Dottyback is one of the best dottybacks for newer aquarists. It has a brilliant purple coloration, stays small, and is commonly available as captive-bred. That captive-bred availability helps make it easier to feed and more predictable in a community aquarium.

Orchid Dottybacks are bold and spend much of their time moving in and out of the rockwork. They are generally less aggressive than many other dottybacks, but they can still be territorial, especially toward other dottybacks or fish with a similar shape. The Orchid Dottyback is usually the safest dottyback recommendation for a beginner community tank, especially when purchased captive-bred.

The Sharknose Goby is a tiny cleaner goby that makes a great addition to nano and pico aquariums. It has a sleek body, bold stripe pattern, and spends much of its time perched on the rockwork or moving between favorite lookout spots.

Parasites and tiny meaty foods make up much of their natural diet, but in an aquarium they will usually accept appropriately sized frozen foods and prepared aquarium foods formulated for carnivores. They are peaceful toward most fish and will not bother corals, but avoid housing Sharknose Gobies with larger predatory fish that may see them as food.

The Neon Goby is a small, peaceful cleaner goby with a brilliant blue stripe that stands out beautifully in a saltwater aquarium. Its tiny size makes it a great candidate for smaller tanks where larger beginner fish may not be appropriate.

Neon Gobies are generally peaceful and reef safe. They may clean larger fish in the aquarium, but they should still be fed small meaty frozen foods and appropriately sized prepared foods. Captive-bred Neon Gobies are often available and are a great choice when you can find them. They are small enough to fit through tiny gaps, so use a tight-fitting lid and avoid large predatory tankmates.

The Royal Gramma Basslet is one of the best first-time saltwater fish. They have some of the most vibrant colors you will find in the ocean, are peaceful toward tankmates, stay small, and acclimate to life in an aquarium quickly. Not to be confused with the "Royal Dottyback" which looks almost identical but is far more pugnacious.

The Royal Gramma is naturally a deeper water fish and likes to swim about the rocks and caves, staying out of the bright light. It will show territorial aggression toward others of the same species, so only one per tank is best for most beginner aquariums. Provide caves and overhangs so it has shaded hiding spots and room to feel secure.

The Diamond Goby is unique in that it has a large mouth it uses to sift through the sand in your aquarium, filtering out small organisms and stirring up detritus. It will inhabit the sand, often creating a burrow under the rocks, spending its days constantly filtering the substrate.

On the plus side, they keep the sand bed clean, oxygenated, and free of algae and other pests. The tradeoff is that they may rearrange the sand bed, especially in smaller aquariums or tanks with lightweight frags placed near the substrate. Sand-sifting gobies can starve if they do not get enough food, so a mature sand bed and targeted feeding near the burrow are helpful for long-term success.

The fire red coloration makes the Flame Hawkfish a great addition to your tank. They don't get too big and will spend time perching on the rocks waiting for food or swimming among the branches of your corals.

They do like to hang out in the rocks and may defend their territory against intruders, so be cautious when housing them with blennies or other rock-dwelling fish. They may prey upon small shrimp but generally will not pose a threat to corals or most tankmates. Flame Hawkfish adapt well to aquarium life and usually accept pellet food, but offer frozen meaty foods as part of a varied diet.

The long slender body and bright yellow coloration are the attractive features of a Midas Blenny. They have a very eel-like swimming motion that will stand out from the crowd in your aquarium.

Midas Blennies like to perch among the rocks and will show aggression toward competition. Be mindful when housing these fish in smaller tanks, especially alongside other blennies or rock-dwelling fish. They are omnivores, so offer a varied diet containing both meaty foods and algae or plant-based foods for long-term health.

Some of the most prized aquarium fish, Dwarf Angelfish are certainly impressive with a variety of species that come in a rainbow of colors. The Flame Angelfish is one of the most popular choices because of their brilliant bright red coloration and manageable size.

Dwarf Angelfish can adapt well to aquarium life if given the space and proper diet. A larger aquarium is recommended for the fish to feel comfortable, and they should not be housed with other Dwarf Angelfish in most beginner aquariums. They are best considered an “advanced beginner” fish and may nip at corals or clam mantles, so they are reef safe with caution.

Tip: If purple is more your color, check out the Coral Beauty Dwarf Angelfish.