The following list of marine aquarium fish species commonly available in the aquarium trade is not a completely comprehensive list; certain rare specimens may be available commercially but not yet listed here. A brief section on each, with a link to the page about the particular species is provided along with references for further information.
Reef-safe fish do not consume corals or invertebrates, while fish categorized as not safe do. Fish labelled as "with caution" may have individuals within the species that could potentially eat invertebrates or cause damage to corals.
Angelfish (large)
These large fish are considered to be quite hardy, but because of their size may present a significant challenge to the keeper. They need huge aquariums, up to 180 gallons to house one for its entire lifespan. Two angels might be kept in the same aquarium provided it is a large aquarium, they are properly acclimated as juveniles, and they have very different colouring and body shape. However, because all Angelfish have essentially the same diet, mixing them is a feat that should be left to only advanced keepers. Most are not reef safe, and a potential owner should be aware that they need to have plenty of vegetable matter in their diet. They undergo major changes in colouration while maturing, and unless specified given descriptions are for adult specimens. Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Description Max size Blue ring angelfish, annularis angelfish Pomacanthus annularis No Arabian angelfish, Asfur angelfish Pomacanthus asfur No Bellus angelfish Genicanthus bellus Yes Light blue all over. Exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: females have wide black bands, males' bands are orange. Blue angelfish Holacanthus bermudensis No Blue Angelfish has an overall aqua hue with a yellow shimmer and yellow edges on the fins and scales. The Blue Angelfish does not have the striking blue crown or other blue highlights of the Queen Angelfish. This species has been known to reproduce with the Queen Angelfish, making a half breed that looks like a mixture between the two species. Bluespotted angelfish Chaetodontoplus caeruleopunctatus No Blueface angelfish Pomacanthus xanthometopon With Caution Cortez angelfish Pomacanthus zonipectus No Darkly hued with yellow stripes. Emperor angelfish Pomacanthus imperator No Juveniles are black with blue-white spiraling; adults are blue with yellow stripes, accented with white and black and a blue mask. Will easily be the dominant angelfish if housed with other angels. French angelfish Pomacanthus paru No Juveniles are black with 3 yellow vertically running stripes, may also display blue on pelvic fins. Adults lard black with white vertical stripes. Gray angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatus No Light grey with dark spots and bluish/grey mask over face. Closely related to French Angelfish. Griffis angelfish Apolemichthys griffisi No An ashen white angel with thick black bands and spots, it is a rare find within the aquarium trade. Half-moon angelfish, Yellow bar angelfish Pomacanthus maculosus No Blue with yellow splotch-like marking on side. Koran angelfish Pomacanthus semicirculatus No Grey towards the face, becoming a navy blue towards the caudal fin with striking iridescent blue accents throughout. Majestic angelfish or blue girdled angelfish Pomacanthus navarchus No Yellow dorsal and caudal fins connecting to "saddal" with dark blue dots. Dark blue underside and anal fin. Electric blue separating yellow and dark blue. Passer angelfish or King angelfish Holacanthus passer No Very dark blue with yellow caudal fin and distinctive white stripe. Personifer angelfish or Queensland yellowtail angelfish Chaetodontoplus meridithii No Queen angelfish Holacanthus ciliaris No Tan coloured with yellow caudal fin and neon blue outlined fins. This species has been known to reproduce with the Blue Angelfish, making a half breed that looks like a mixture between the two species. Rock beauty Holacanthus tricolor No Royal angelfish Pygoplites diacanthus No Orange and blue striped with dark blue dorsal fin and lemon yellow caudal fin. Scribbled angelfish Chaetodontoplus duboulayi No Japanese swallow angelfish Genicanthus semifasciatus Yes Black and tan striped back with yellow blaze beginning at the mouth and tapering off towards the centre of the side, with light blueish grey underside. Has distinctively shaped tail resembling that of a swallow. Yellowtail angelfish Apolemichthys xanthurus No
Angelfish (dwarf)
Although Dwarf Angelfish are smaller and generally more manageable than their larger counterparts, they still have some specific care requirements. They are omnivores, but plenty of vegetable matter, preferably in the form of macroalgae, should be provided for their grazing pleasure. Their suitability for reef tanks is hotly debated, so add at your own risk. Specimens that have been successfully maintained in reef aquaria include the Flame and Coral Beauty angels. However, for obvious reasons they should not be put into tanks with expensive decorative macroalgae.
Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Description Max size Barred angelfish Centropyge multifasciata With caution White fish with vertical black stripes that change to yellow at the belly Bicolor angelfish Centropyge bicolor With caution Blue Velvet Angelfish Centropyge deborae Brazilian flameback angelfish Centropyge aurantonotus With caution Coral beauty angelfish Centropyge bispinosa With caution Reddish body with blue back and orange fins. A shy fish that prefers multiple hiding locations. Cherubfish or Pygmy angelfish Centropyge argi With caution Blue colored body with an orange yellow head. Eibli angelfish Centropyge eibli With caution Tan coloured body with vertical brown stripes and large distinctive black splotch covering the back of the fish, including the caudal fin. Flame angelfish Centropyge loricula Yes Vivid orange-red with vertical black stripes and blue patches toward the end of the dorsal and anal fins. Pearlscale angelfish Centropyge vroliki With caution Anterior is gray to pearly white with orange accent around eye, posterior is deep black. Herald's angelfish Centropyge heraldi With caution Completely lemon yellow, with a brown marking around the eye. Keyhole angelfish Centropyge tibicen No Centropyge type species. Overall black with an elongate vertical black blotch on the middle of the upper sides. When small, mainly black with a white bar. Dorsal and anal fins with submarginal blue line; most of the pelvic and the anterior portion of the anal fin yellow. Caudal fin with submarginal blue line. Lemonpeel angelfish Centropyge flavissima With caution Bright yellow with distinctive dark semicircle by operculum. Multicolor angelfish Centropyge multicolor With caution Orange-back angelfish Centropyge acanthops With caution Dark blue with golden yellow blaze running from the face down the dorsal fin, with a colourless caudal fin. Pacific pygmy angelfish Centropyge flavicauda With caution Potter's angelfish Centropyge potteri With caution Similarly coloured to the Coral Beauty, but with a blue body and reddish fins. Rusty angelfish Centropyge ferrugata Yes Tan coloured body with dark spots and a reddish tint around the anal fin. Venustus angelfish Centropyge venustus With caution 12 cm
(4.7 in)
Anthias
Although Anthias resemble damsels in shape and size, the two should never be confused. Anthias (also known as "fairy basslets") are finicky and many starve to death in captivity. In the wild, they eat zooplankton, and will not accept anything else in the aquarium. They also need to be fed nearly constantly, three times a day at least. The best way to ensure the health and longevity of an Anthias is to attach a refugium where copepods can be grown to "drip" into the display tank. Unlike many other saltwater aquarium inhabitants, they can be kept in groups.
Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Description Max sizeBartlett's anthias Pseudanthias bartlettorum Yes Back and face light yellow, underside pink with a swallowtail-shaped caudal fin. Bicolor anthias Pseudanthias bicolor Yes Similarly shaped and coloured to Bartlett's Anthias, but with a slightly more rounded back. Cooper's anthias Pseudanthias cooperi Yes Orange back and finnage with white patch below the mouth running down toward the anal fin with pink sides. Diadem anthias Pseudanthias parvirostris Yes Pink fish with yellow streak on top of head running along the lateral line. Caudal fin is red with yellow tips. Orangehead anthias Pseudanthias heemstrai Yes Pink underside with orange back and mask, dark red splotch on caudal fin, along with iridescent blue anal and pelvic fins. Redbar anthias Pseudanthias rubrizonatus Yes Tannish-pink with a single vertical red stripe and a dorsal fin with the skin between the rays pulled back like on a lionfish. Lyretail anthias, Sea Goldie Pseudanthias squamipinnis Yes Females are orange with lyre-shaped caudal fin. Males are fuchsia with red markings on fins Squareback anthias Pseudanthias pleurotaenia Yes Red back and pink underside with distinctive blue square shaped marking and blue fins. Stocky anthias Pseudanthias hypselosoma Yes Orange back with cream colored underside. As its name suggests, slightly stockier than other Anthias. Threadfin anthias Pseudanthias huchtii Yes Olive green with black caudal fin and red stripe running from the eye to the pectoral fin.
Bass and groupers
In this exceedingly large group of fish, few are considered proper aquarium inhabitants, for various reasons including diet and size. Basses vary greatly from species to species. Appropriate research should be done before purchasing a specimen. Many unsuspecting hobbyists bring home cute little specimens of popular aquarium fish such as the lyretail grouper, only to realize several months later that they do not have the resources to care for a meter-long that may cost hundreds of dollars a month to feed.