Best saltwater aquarium fish

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. It has proven to be a joyful and educational experience for me. Best saltwater aquarium fish keeping is a challenging but very creative hobby, which with proper knowledge and skills helps to create a beautiful and healthy aquarium.

Saltwater fish are challenging to care for, and their care can be difficult. Therefore, for the benefit of beginners, I have described all the saltwater fish that are relatively easy to keep in an aquarium so that beginners can easily choose fish according to their preferences.

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. Red Mandarin

• Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus
• Common Name: Mandarin Fish, Mandarin Goby
• Family: Callionymidae
• Color Form: Orange
• Care Level: Intermediate
• Behavior: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: All levels
• Optimal pH: 8.1-8.4
• Breeding: Egg layer
• Origin: Islands south to Australia
• 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: Up to 5 years

5. Blue Tang

• Scientific Name: Paracanthurus hepatus
• Common Name: Regal Tang, Palette Surgeonfish, Blue Tang
• Family: Acanthuridae
• Color Form: Blue
• Care Level: Easy
• Behavior: Semi-Aggressive
• Swimming Level: Deep level
• Optimal pH: 8.1 – 8.4
• Breeding: Egg layer
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Adult Size: 10-12 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons for one fish
• Water Temperature: 75°F – 80°F
• Water Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
• Diet: Herbivore
• Average Lifespan: 10 – 15 years

6. Auriga Butterflyfish

• Scientific Name: Chaetodon auriga
• Common Name: Threadfin Butterflyfish
• Family: Chaetodontidae
• Color Form: Black, White, Yellow
• Care Level: Intermediate to advanced care
• Behavior: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid and top-level
• Optimal pH: 8 to 8.2
• Breeding: Egg layer
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Adult Size: 8 to 10 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 120 to 125 gallons for one Auriga Butterflyfish
• Water Temperature: 74°F – 78°F
• Water Hardness: 10-12 dGH
• Diet: Omnivore
• Average Lifespan: 8 to 10 years

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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