Popular Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Also known as the lyretail coralfish, the lyretail anthias or the scalefin anthia, but may be simply known as the goldfish. The sea goldie is a common sight to scuba divers in the Indian Ocean, and is a typical representative of the subfamily of Anthiinae (Anthias).

Pterois antennata or Broadbarred firefish is a fish of the genus Pterois. Found in the tropical Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, it grows to a maximum of 20 cm and packs a venomous sting. Typical habitat is lagoons and reefs, where it hides during the day and hunts shrimp and crab during the night.

The leafy sea dragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish related to the seahorse. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus. These creatures are found around southern and western Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body. Th…

The Yellow boxfish, Ostracion cubicus, is a boxfish of the genus Ostracion, and can be found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean as well as the south eastern Atlantic Ocean. It reaches a maximum length of 45 cm.

The True Percula (Amphiprion percula) is an aquarium fish. Like other clownfish (also called anemonefish), it often lives in association with sea anemones. A. percula is associated specifically with Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea, and as larva use chemical cues released from the ane…

The longhorn cowfish, Lactoria cornuta, is a variety of boxfish from the Ostraciidi family, recognisable by its long horns that protrude from the front of its head, rather like those of a cow or bull. They are a resident of the Indo-Pacific region and are usually around 10cm (4ins) long. Whilst badl…

The ribbon eel, Rhinomuraena quaesita, or Bernis eel, is a species of saltwater eels, the only member of the genus Rhinomuraena of the Muraenidae (Moray eel) family of order Anguilliformes. What is now known as Rhinomuraena quaesita also includes the former Rhinomuraena amboinensis. R. quaesita was …

'''Clark's anemonefish or the Yellowtail clownfish' (Amphiprion clarkii'') is a widely distributed clownfish. It is found in tropical waters, in lagoons and on outer reef slopes, from the Persian Gulf to Western Australia and throughout the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean as far as Melanesia and Micr…

'''Valentinni's sharpnose puffer', Canthigaster valentini, is a pufferfish of the genus Canthigaster'', and can be found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. It reaches a maximum length of 11 cm. It is also referred to as a black saddled toby.

Pomacanthus semicirculatus is a marine angelfish from the Indo-West Pacific ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 40cm in length.

The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) is a saltwater fish species of the family Acanthuridae. It is one of the most popular aquarium fish.

The long-spine porcupinefish is also known as the spiny balloonfish.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray or blue dot ray, Taeniura lymma, is a stingray of the family Dasyatidae, found around coral reefs in the tropical Indo-West Pacific, between latitudes 32° N and 30° S.

The Threadfin Butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord H…

The emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator, is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands.

The Lagoon triggerfish, (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) also known as the blackbar triggerfish, the Picassofish, and the Jamal, is a triggerfish, up to 30 cm in length, found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region.

The spotted garden eel, Heteroconger hassi, is a conger of the family Congridae, found in Indo-Pacific oceans at depths of between 7 and 45 m. Length is up to 40 cm, and the body diameter is up to about 14 mm.

The humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) is a wrasse that is mainly found in coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also known as the Maori wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, Napoleonfish; or "So Mei" 蘇眉 (Cantonese) and "Mameng" (Filipino).

The Orange-lined Triggerfish, Orange-striped Triggerfish or Undulated Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) is a triggerfish of the tropical Indo-Pacific area. It is the only member of the genus Balistapus. They reach a maximum size of about 30 cm. They feed on coral, crabs and invertebrates. They are …

Cetoscarus bicolor is a Parrotfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 90cm in length.

The bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is a species of wrasse found on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and much of the Pacific Ocean, as well as many seas, including the Red Sea and those around Southeast Asia. Like other cleaner wrasses, it eats parasites and dead tissue off larger fi…

The Ocellaris Clownfish, Clownfish or False Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is a popular aquarium fish. It is very closely related to A. percula, the Orange Clownfish or "True Percula Clownfish", and often lives in association with the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica, using them for shelt…

Cryptocentrus cinctus is a Goby from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10cm in length.

Paracirrhites forsteri, commonly called black-sided hawkfish, is a Hawkfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 22cm in length.

The mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus), is a small, brightly-colored member of the dragonet family, which is popular in the saltwater aquarium trade. The mandarinfish is native to the Pacific, ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia. It is also somewh…