Starting your first saltwater aquarium comes with one particularly exciting decision: choosing your fish.
Walk into an aquarium store and you may find dozens of colorful species competing for your attention. Unfortunately, the fish that catches your eye is not always the fish that belongs in your first aquarium.
Some marine fish require specialized diets. Others grow surprisingly large, become aggressive, need pristine water conditions, or simply do not tolerate the small mistakes that inevitably happen while you are learning.
For a first saltwater aquarium, you want fish that are relatively hardy, adaptable, manageable in size, and appropriate for the aquarium you actually have.
Here are 10 of our favorite saltwater fish for beginners, along with what you should know before bringing each one home.
If there is one fish that has become the face of saltwater aquariums, it is the Ocellaris Clownfish.
And fortunately for beginners, this famous little fish is also one of the better choices for a first marine aquarium.
Scientific Name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Adult Size: Around 3 to 4 inches
Temperament: Generally peaceful, although territorial around their chosen area
Diet: Omnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Ocellaris Clownfish are widely available as captive-bred fish and tend to adapt well to aquarium life. They readily accept many prepared and frozen foods and do not require an enormous aquarium.
Their bold orange, white, and black coloration also means you do not have to sacrifice appearance simply because you are choosing a beginner-friendly species.
No.
This is one of the most common misconceptions about clownfish.
Clownfish can live perfectly healthy lives without an anemone. In fact, anemones can be considerably more demanding than the clownfish themselves.
A beginner can keep clownfish successfully without ever adding an anemone.
The Royal Gramma is one of those fish that almost looks too colorful to be real.
Its body transitions from brilliant purple at the front to bright yellow toward the tail, making it an immediate standout in a reef aquarium.
Scientific Name: Gramma loreto
Adult Size: Around 3 inches
Temperament: Generally peaceful, but can defend its territory
Diet: Carnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Royal Grammas naturally spend time around caves and rockwork, so an aquarium with plenty of hiding areas will help them feel secure.
Do not be surprised if a newly introduced Royal Gramma disappears into the rocks for a while.
Once comfortable, they usually become much more visible.
They are also known for occasionally positioning themselves at unusual angles around rockwork. A Royal Gramma swimming sideways or even appearing upside down near a cave is not necessarily cause for alarm.
The Firefish Goby is an excellent option if you want something colorful, peaceful, and relatively small.
Its pale body transitions into bright orange, red, and purple coloration toward the tail.
Scientific Name: Nemateleotris magnifica
Adult Size: Around 3 inches
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Firefish tend to appreciate rockwork where they can quickly retreat when frightened.
There is one major thing every prospective Firefish owner should know:
They can jump.
A secure aquarium lid is highly recommended.
An open-top aquarium and a startled Firefish can be an unfortunate combination.
Banggai Cardinalfish look completely different from many of the brightly colored fish associated with reef tanks.
Their silver bodies, dramatic black stripes, white spots, and long fins give them an almost prehistoric appearance.
Scientific Name: Pterapogon kauderni
Adult Size: Around 3 inches
Temperament: Generally peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Captive-bred Banggai Cardinalfish are commonly available and are generally preferable to wild-caught specimens.
They are not constant high-speed swimmers, making them a nice contrast to more active species.
They can sometimes become territorial toward other Banggai Cardinalfish, particularly as they mature and pair off, so do not assume that purchasing a large group is automatically the best approach.
If personality is high on your list, take a look at the Yellow Watchman Goby.
These small bottom-dwelling fish often establish a favorite burrow or section of the aquarium and spend their time watching everything happening around them.
Scientific Name: Cryptocentrus cinctus
Adult Size: Around 4 inches
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
One of the most interesting things about Watchman Gobies is their potential relationship with pistol shrimp.
In nature, certain gobies and pistol shrimp form a partnership. The shrimp maintains a burrow while the goby watches for danger.
This relationship can sometimes be recreated in an aquarium with appropriately paired species.
Even without a shrimp partner, the Yellow Watchman Goby can be an entertaining and relatively beginner-friendly addition.
Provide a suitable sandy substrate and secure rockwork.
The Tailspot Blenny proves that a fish does not need to be large to have personality.
These little blennies spend much of their time perched on rocks, watching their surroundings and moving from one favorite spot to another.
Scientific Name: Ecsenius stigmatura
Adult Size: Around 2.5 inches
Temperament: Generally peaceful
Diet: Omnivore with an herbivorous component
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Reef Safe: Generally yes
Their smaller adult size makes them particularly appealing for aquarists who do not have room for a large marine aquarium.
They can also graze on algae growing on aquarium surfaces.
That does not mean a Tailspot Blenny should be purchased as an algae-cleaning tool. It still needs a varied, nutritious diet and appropriate care.
Think of any algae grazing as a bonus.
Yes, that is really its name.
The Pajama Cardinalfish has one of the strangest appearances on this list, with a yellowish face, dark vertical band, silver body, and distinctive spots.
Scientific Name: Sphaeramia nematoptera
Adult Size: Around 3 to 3.5 inches
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Pajama Cardinalfish are generally peaceful and can work well in community marine aquariums.
They are often more active during lower-light periods and may spend portions of the day hovering around rockwork.
Their unusual appearance makes them a great choice for someone who wants a beginner fish that does not look like every other species in the tank.
Damselfish have a complicated reputation.
They are colorful, hardy, affordable, and extremely tempting to beginners.
They can also be tiny underwater bullies.
The Azure Damselfish is one of the damsels worth considering if you want that classic electric blue and yellow coloration.
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera hemicyanea
Adult Size: Around 3 inches
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Azure Damselfish are hardy and striking, but their territorial nature should not be ignored.
Provide adequate space and rockwork, and choose tankmates carefully.
They are a good example of why “easy to keep alive” and “appropriate for every aquarium” are not the same thing.
The Yellowtail Damselfish is another hardy blue and yellow option.
Its brilliant blue body and contrasting yellow tail even lead some children to mistake it for a tiny Blue Hippo Tang.
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera parasema
Adult Size: Around 3 inches
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
The big advantage is that the Yellowtail Damselfish remains small.
A Blue Hippo Tang can grow to approximately a foot long and requires an aquarium around 125 gallons or larger. A Yellowtail Damselfish has dramatically more manageable space requirements.
However, it is still a damselfish.
Territorial behavior is possible, particularly once the fish establishes an area of the aquarium as its own.
Research compatibility before adding one to a peaceful community.
The Chalk Bass may not receive as much attention as clownfish or gobies, but it can be a great choice for a beginner marine aquarium.
Scientific Name: Serranus tortugarum
Adult Size: Around 3 inches
Temperament: Generally peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Generally yes
Chalk Bass are attractive without being overly delicate and can adapt well to established marine aquariums.
Their purple, blue, and orange markings become particularly attractive under good aquarium lighting.
They appreciate rockwork and hiding spaces but will usually spend plenty of time where you can actually see them.
For someone looking beyond the most obvious beginner species, the Chalk Bass deserves consideration.
| Fish | Adult Size | Temperament | Care Level | Reef Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocellaris Clownfish | 3 to 4″ | Peaceful to Territorial | Easy | Yes |
| Royal Gramma | 3″ | Peaceful to Territorial | Easy | Yes |
| Firefish Goby | 3″ | Peaceful | Easy | Yes |
| Banggai Cardinalfish | 3″ | Generally Peaceful | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| Yellow Watchman Goby | 4″ | Peaceful | Easy | Yes |
| Tailspot Blenny | 2.5″ | Generally Peaceful | Easy to Moderate | Generally |
| Pajama Cardinalfish | 3 to 3.5″ | Peaceful | Easy | Yes |
| Azure Damselfish | 3″ | Semi-Aggressive | Easy | Yes |
| Yellowtail Damselfish | 3″ | Semi-Aggressive | Easy | Yes |
| Chalk Bass | 3″ | Generally Peaceful | Easy | Generally |
“Beginner fish” does not mean a fish can be placed in any aquarium and forgotten about.
Every marine fish requires appropriate water quality, nutrition, tank size, and compatible tankmates.
When we call a species beginner-friendly, we are generally looking for characteristics such as:
A beginner-friendly fish still needs a properly established aquarium.
Do not fill your entire stocking list on your first trip to the fish store.
Even after your aquarium has completed its initial nitrogen cycle, adding many fish at once can suddenly increase the amount of waste your biological filtration needs to process.
Start gradually.
This also gives you an opportunity to watch each new fish, make sure it is eating properly, and identify potential compatibility problems before adding more animals.
Patience is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in the saltwater hobby.
No.
A saltwater aquarium does not automatically need corals.
A fish-only saltwater aquarium can be a great introduction to marine fishkeeping. You can also create a fish-only system with live rock, commonly called a FOWLR aquarium.
Corals introduce their own lighting, water chemistry, flow, and compatibility requirements.
If your main interest is the fish, there is nothing wrong with starting there and deciding whether you want to explore corals later.
When captive-bred specimens of the species you want are available, they are often an excellent option.
Captive-bred fish are already accustomed to aquarium environments and are commonly familiar with prepared foods. Choosing captive-bred animals can also reduce pressure on wild populations.
Clownfish are one of the best examples.
Captive-bred Ocellaris Clownfish are widely available, including numerous color and pattern variations that have been developed within the aquarium hobby.
Availability varies significantly by species, so ask whether a captive-bred option exists when shopping for fish.
Hardy does not mean disease-proof.
New marine fish can potentially carry parasites or diseases into your aquarium even when they look perfectly healthy at the store.
Marine ich and velvet are two of the most concerning examples.
A separate quarantine aquarium allows you to observe new fish before introducing them to your established display.
This becomes especially important once you have multiple healthy fish in the main aquarium.
Introducing one infected animal can turn a problem involving one fish into a problem involving your entire tank.
It is incredibly easy to walk into an aquarium store and choose fish based on appearance.
That electric blue fish looks amazing.
That tiny puffer is adorable.
That juvenile angelfish would look perfect in your tank.
Then you get home and discover that your new fish grows to 12 inches, eats your invertebrates, attacks its tankmates, or requires an aquarium three times larger than yours.
Before buying any saltwater fish, check:
Always research the adult fish, not just the juvenile sitting in the store.
The Blue Hippo Tang is one of the most recognizable marine fish in the world, but we would not put it on a list of the best first saltwater fish.
Despite often being sold as tiny juveniles, Blue Hippo Tangs can reach approximately 12 inches and require a very large aquarium with significant swimming room.
They can also be particularly susceptible to parasites such as marine ich.
If keeping a “Dory” is one of your long-term goals, there is nothing wrong with working toward it.
Start with an appropriately sized aquarium, learn how to maintain stable saltwater parameters, establish good quarantine practices, and gain some experience with hardier marine species first.
A Blue Hippo Tang can be an incredible aquarium fish when you are actually prepared for one.
For most beginners, it is difficult to beat a pair of captive-bred Ocellaris Clownfish.
They are colorful, recognizable, widely available, relatively hardy, and generally adapt very well to aquarium life.
If clownfish are not your thing, a Royal Gramma, Firefish, Yellow Watchman Goby, or one of the other species on this list can also make an excellent choice.
There is no single perfect first fish.
The best fish is one whose adult size, behavior, diet, and care requirements match the aquarium you have.
Start with a properly cycled tank. Choose your fish carefully. Add livestock gradually. Feed a varied diet. Keep your water parameters stable.
Do those things, and your first saltwater aquarium has a much better chance of becoming the beginning of a hobby rather than a frustrating first experience.
