12 Best saltwater aquarium fish and 4 Avoid for beginners.

Best 12 saltwater aquarium fish and 4 Avoid for beginners.

I am an experienced Aquarium keeper I keep saltwater fish, freshwater fish, and turtles. By raising various species of saltwater fish, I have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure their behavior, feeding habits, and well-being.

Keeping the best saltwater aquarium fish can be a challenge for beginners, but choosing the right saltwater fish can result in a beautiful and healthy aquarium.

Here, for the benefit of beginners, I have described some saltwater fish that are relatively easy to keep in an aquarium so that beginners can care for them without difficulty.

I have also listed some saltwater fish that are not suitable for beginners.

Best 12 saltwater aquarium fish

1. Ocellaris Clownfish

Scientific Name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Common Name: Clownfish, Ocellaris Clownfish, Common Clownfish
Family: Pomacentridae
Color Form: Orange, red-brown, white
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Peaceful
Swimming Level: Mid and top-level
Optimal pH: 8 to 8.4
Breeding: Egg layer
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Adult Size: 3 to 4.3 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 20-22 gallons for one Ocellaris Clownfish
Water Temperature: 75°F – 80°F
Water Hardness: 10 to 12 dGH
Diet: Omnivores
Average Lifespan: 12 to 15 years

2. Kole Yellow Eye Tang

Scientific Name: Ctenochaetus strigosus
Common Name: Kole Tang, Goldring Bristletooth
Family: Acanthuridae
Color Form: Yellow, gold, brown, blue
Care Level: Easy to moderate
Behavior: Semi-Aggressive
Swimming Level: All levels
Optimal pH: 8 – 8.4
Breeding: Egg layer
Origin: Indian Ocean
Adult Size: 7 to 8 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons for one fish
Water Temperature: 75°F – 82°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dGH
Diet: Omnivore
Average Lifespan: 5+ years

3. Gem Tang

Scientific Name: Zebrasoma gemmatum
Common Name: Gem Tang, Jewelled Tang
Family: Acanthuridae
Color Form: Black, White, Yellow
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Semi-Aggressive
Swimming Level: Bottom
Optimal pH: 8.1-8.4
Breeding: Do not breed Gem Tangs in aquariums
Origin: Western Indian Ocean, around South Africa
Adult Size: 6.7-8.7 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Water Temperature: 72-78°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dKH
Diet: Herbivores
Average Lifespan: 10 to 15 years

4. Pakistan Butterflyfish

Scientific Name: Chaetodon collare
Common Name: Redtail Butterflyfish
Family: Chaetodontidae
Color Form: Black, Red, Tan, White
Care Level: Intermediate
Behavior: Peaceful
Swimming Level: All levels
Optimal pH: 8.1-8.4
Breeding: Do not breed Pakistan Butterflyfish in aquariums
Origin: Pacific Ocean from Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Adult Size: 7-8 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 120 to 125 gallons
Water Temperature: 72-78°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dKH
Diet: Carnivore
Average Lifespan: Up to 10 years

5. Splendid Dottyback

Scientific Name: Manonichthys splendens
Common Name: Splendid Dottyback
Family: Pseudochromidae
Color Form: Blue, Pink, White, Yellow
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Semi-aggressive
Swimming Level: Mid to bottom
Optimal pH: 8.1-8.4
Origin: Indonesia
Adult Size: 3-4 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 25 to 30 gallons
Water Temperature: 72-78°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dKH
Diet: Carnivore
Average Lifespan: 5-7 years

6. Raccoon Butterflyfish

Scientific Name: Chaetodon lunula
Common Name: Raccoon Butterflyfish, Raccoon Coralfish
Family: Chaetodontidae
Color Form: Yellow-orange, with black and white patches
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Peaceful
Swimming Level: All levels
Optimal pH: 8.2–8.4
Breeding: Egg layer
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Adult Size: Up to 8 inches (20 cm) in length
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons for one Raccoon Butterflyfish
Water Temperature: 74°F – 80°F
Water Hardness: 5–15 dGH
Diet: Omnivore
Average Lifespan: 5–7 years

7. Yellow Tang

Scientific Name: Zebrasoma flavescens
Common Name: Yellow Surgeonfish, Yellow Hawaiian Tang
Family: Acanthuridae
Color Form: Yellow
Care Level: Easy to moderate
Behavior: Semi-Aggressive
Swimming Level: Deep level
Optimal pH: 8 to 8.4
Breeding: Egg layer
Origin: South Pacific
Adult Size: Up to 8 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons for one
Water Temperature: 75°F – 82°F
Water Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Diet: Herbivore food, dried and frozen
Average Lifespan: 30 years in the wild, 10 in captivity

8. Six-Lined Wrasse

Scientific Name: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Common Name: Six Line Wrasse, Six Stripe Wrasse, Six Bar Wrasse
Family: Labridae
Color Form: Bright bluish-purple
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Semi-aggressive
Swimming Level: Mid to bottom
Optimal pH: 8.1 to 8.4
Breeding: Egg layer
Origin: Fiji and Indo-Pacific
Adult Size: 3 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Water Temperature: 75°F – 82°F
Water Hardness: 8 to 12 dKH
Diet: Carnivore
Average Lifespan: 4 to 6 years

9. Purple Tang

Scientific Name: Zebrasoma xanthurum
Common Name: Purple Tang, Yellowtail Tang, Yellowtail Surgeonfish
Family: Acanthuridae
Color Form: Blue to purple
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Semi-aggressive
Swimming Level: Bottom
Optimal pH: 8.0 to 8.4
Breeding: Do not breed Purple Tangs in aquariums
Origin: Red Sea
Adult Size: 10-12 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 120 to 125 gallons
Water Temperature: 75°F – 82°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dKH
Diet: Frozen and dried food
Average Lifespan: 12 to 15 years

10. Ruby Red Dragonet

Scientific Name: Synchiropus sycorax
Common Name: Starry Dragonet, Red Scooter Dragonet
Family: Callionymidae
Color Form: Red, White, Yellow
Care Level: Intermediate
Behavior: Peaceful
Swimming Level: Bottom
Optimal pH: 8.1-8.4
Breeding: Do not breed Ruby Red Dragonets in aquariums
Origin: Islands south to Australia
Adult Size: 3-4 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Water Temperature: 72-78°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dKH
Diet: Carnivore
Average Lifespan: 2 to 4 years

11. Heniochus Black and White Butterflyfish

Scientific Name: Heniochus acuminatus
Common Name: Longfin Bannerfish
Family: Chaetodontidae
Color Form: Black, White, Yellow
Care Level: Easy
Behavior: Peaceful
Swimming Level: Bottom
Optimal pH: 8.1-8.4
Breeding: Do not breed Heniochus Butterflyfish in aquariums
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Adult Size: 8-9 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 120 to 125 gallons
Water Temperature: 72-78°F
Water Hardness: 8-12 dKH
Diet: Omnivore
Average Lifespan: 5 to 7 years

12. Flame Hawkfish

Scientific Name: Neocirrhitus armatus
Common Name: Red Hawkfish, Brilliant Hawkfish
Family: Cirrhitidae
Color Form: Red
Care Level: Intermediate
Behavior: Semi-aggressive
Swimming Level: Bottom-dweller
Optimal pH: 8 to 8.4
Breeding: Egg layer
Origin: Islands, Australia, South Pacific waters
Adult Size: 3.5 to 4.5 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons for one Flame Hawkfish
Water Temperature: 73°F – 80°F
Water Hardness: 8 to 12 dGH
Diet: Marine meats, live feeder shrimp
Average Lifespan: 8 to 10 years

1. Cleaner Wrasse

Cleaner Wrasse

Food Issues:

In the wild, they survive by eating parasites and dead skin from other fish. This is their main food source.

There are not enough parasites or natural foods available in the aquarium. As a result, this fish can easily die of malnutrition.

Many Cleaner Wrasse are not accustomed to eating flakes, pellets, or other artificial foods, which makes them difficult to maintain.

Tank Size and Environment:

Cleaner Wrasse are active fish and need plenty of space to swim around. They usually require large tanks (75+ gallons), which can be difficult for beginners to manage.

They are peaceful fish and can become stressed when kept with aggressive or territorial fish. Beginners often add aggressive fish before they understand the compatibility of the fish.

Complex Care and Water Quality:

Cleaner Wrasse are very sensitive fish and require regular monitoring and control of water quality (pH, salinity, temperature). This can be challenging for beginners.

Keeping this fish requires the experience and expertise of an aquarist, which beginners usually do not have.

Dependence on Other Fish:

Dependence on Parasite Cleaning: Cleaner Wrasse survives by cleaning parasites from the bodies of other fish. If there are not enough fish in the tank or the fish are parasite-free, the Cleaner Wrasse will suffer from a food shortage.

Fish Numbers and Compatibility: Beginners often cannot keep enough or suitable fish in the tank, which makes it more difficult for the Cleaner Wrasse to survive.

Mandarin Dragonet

Food Problems:

Mandarin Dragonets naturally survive by eating copepods and amphipods. These small invertebrates are their main food.

New or small aquariums usually do not have enough copepods or amphipods. As a result, this fish can easily die of malnutrition.

Many Mandarin Dragonets are not accustomed to eating artificial foods (such as flakes or pellets), which makes them difficult to maintain.

Tank Environment:

This fish requires a mature tank, where the natural population of copepods and amphipods is stable. This is not usually the case in new tanks.

Complex Care:

Water Quality: Mandarin Dragonets are very sensitive fish and require regular monitoring and control of water quality (pH, salinity, temperature).

Experience Required: Keeping this fish requires experience and skill on the part of the aquarist, which beginners do not usually have.

Ethical and Environmental Reasons:

Wildlife Conservation: Many Mandarin Dragonets are caught in the wild, which has a negative impact on the ecosystem. Their survival rate is low in aquariums, so collecting and selling them is ethically questionable.

Powder Blue Tang

Requires Large Tank:

Powder Blue Tangs are large and active fish that swim quickly. They require a tank of at least 100-125 gallons or more.

Problems in Small Tanks: They can become stressed, sick, and aggressive if kept in small tanks.

Sensitive to Water Quality:

Powder Blue Tangs are very sensitive fish and require regular monitoring and control of water quality (pH, salinity, temperature, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). Maintaining such stable and high-quality water can be difficult for beginners.

Disease Proneness:

Ich (White Spot Disease): Powder Blue Tangs are very susceptible to Ich disease, which is a common parasitic infection. This disease spreads quickly and can kill the fish if left untreated. Treating Ich disease is complicated and time-consuming, which can be difficult for beginners.

Aggressive Behavior:

Powder Blue Tangs can be territorial and aggressive towards other Tangs or similarly sized fish. They should be kept with peaceful fish, which can be challenging for beginners.

Special Diet Needs:

Powder Blue Tangs naturally eat algae. Adequate algae and algae-based foods should be provided in the aquarium. This may seem excessive to beginners.

Price and Availability:

Powder Blue Tangs are generally expensive fish and a risky investment for beginners.
This fish is not readily available everywhere, which can be an additional challenge for beginners.

Butterflyfish

Special Diet Needs:

Butterflyfish species survive in the wild by eating only coral polyps, sponges, or algae. This specialized diet is very difficult for beginners to maintain in an aquarium.

Many Butterflyfish are not accustomed to eating artificial foods (such as flakes or pellets), which makes it difficult for beginners to sustain them. As a result, they can die of malnutrition.

Their feeding habits need to be maintained and monitored regularly, which is challenging for beginners.

Sensitive:

Butterflyfish are very sensitive fish and require regular monitoring and control of water quality (pH, salinity, temperature). They can become stressed and sick with even the slightest changes.

Disease Prone: They are very susceptible to diseases, especially Ich and other parasitic infections.

Large Tank Needs:

Butterflyfish are active fish and need plenty of space to swim around. Large tanks (100+ gallons) are usually required.

Many Butterflyfish eat coral, so they should not be kept in reef tanks. They should be kept in fish-only tanks.

Behavioral Issues:

Territorial and Aggressive: Some Butterflyfish species can be territorial and aggressive, especially with other fish of the same species.

Coexistence with Other Fish: They do not get along well with other peaceful fish, especially small or unruly fish.

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Salt Water Fish,