Beginner saltwater fish
A good first saltwater fish is hardy, eats readily and forgives the swings of a young tank. The species here are rated beginner or easy in our catalog, and cover the clownfish, damsels, gobies and other fish most people start a marine tank with. Each profile lists tank size, reef safety and temperament.
121 species
Adorned Wrasse
Halichoeres cosmetus5.1 in (13 cm)50 gal (190 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
African Flameback Angelfish
Centropyge acanthops3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Allen's Damsel
Pomacentrus alleni2.4 in (6 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Arc-Eye Hawkfish
Paracirrhites arcatus7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Azure Damsel
Chrysiptera hemicyanea2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Barberi Clownfish
Amphiprion barberi3.5 in (9 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Barred Rabbitfish
Siganus doliatus9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Bicolor Anthias
Pseudanthias bicolor5.1 in (13 cm)125 gal (475 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Bicolor blenny
Ecsenius bicolor3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Bicolor Dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Black Pyramid Butterflyfish
Hemitaurichthys zoster7.1 in (18 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blackbar soldierfish
Myripristis jacobus8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blackcap Basslet
Gramma melacara3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Blackline Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue Assessor
Assessor macneilli2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Blue Damsel
Chrysiptera cyanea3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue Gudgeon Dartfish
Ptereleotris heteroptera5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Blue Hana Goby
Ptereleotris hanae4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blue Velvet Damsel
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon5.9 in (15 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue-Green Chromis
Chromis atripectoralis4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Bluehead Wrasse
Thalassoma bifasciatum7.1 in (18 cm)74 gal (280 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Bluethroat Triggerfish
Xanthichthys auromarginatus9.1 in (23 cm)125 gal (473 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Carpenter's flasher wrasse
Paracheilinus carpenteri3.1 in (8 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Chalk Bass
Serranus tortugarum3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Cherub Angelfish
Centropyge argi2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Christmas Wrasse
Halichoeres ornatissimus5.9 in (15 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Cinnamon Clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Citron Clown Goby
Gobiodon citrinus2.6 in (6.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Clark's Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Diadem Dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Disco Blenny
Meiacanthus smithi3.1 in (8 cm)26 gal (100 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Domino Damsel
Dascyllus trimaculatus5.5 in (14 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus4.7 in (12 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Falco Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys falco2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Fiji Blue Devil Damsel
Chrysiptera taupou3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Fisher's Angelfish
Centropyge fisheri2.8 in (7 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Flame Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus jordani3.9 in (10 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Forktail Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Four-Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus melanurus3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fourline Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia3 in (7.5 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus9.4 in (24 cm)75 gal (285 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Freckled Hawkfish
Paracirrhites forsteri8.7 in (22 cm)70 gal (265 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Gold-Specs Jawfish
Opistognathus randalli3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Golden Damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon aureus4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Golden Dwarf Moray
Gymnothorax melatremus11.8 in (30 cm)65 gal (246 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Green Chromis
Chromis viridis3.1 in (8 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Green Clown Goby
Gobiodon histrio1.8 in (4.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Harlequin Bass
Serranus tigrinus5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Hector's Goby
Koumansetta hectori3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Helfrich's Firefish
Nemateleotris helfrichi2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Klein's Butterflyfish
Chaetodon kleinii5.9 in (15 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Lawnmower blenny
Salarias fasciatus5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Lemon Damsel
Pomacentrus moluccensis3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus lineatus4.7 in (12 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki3.1 in (8 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Lyretail Hawkfish
Cyprinocirrhites polyactis5.9 in (15 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Magenta Dottyback
Pictichromis porphyrea2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Maroon Clownfish
Premnas biaculeatus6.7 in (17 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus mccoskeri3.1 in (8 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus5.5 in (14 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Midas blenny
Ecsenius midas5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Milletseed Butterflyfish
Chaetodon miliaris5.1 in (13 cm)75 gal (285 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Mimic Tang
Acanthurus pyroferus11.4 in (29 cm)129 gal (490 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Molly Miller Blenny
Scartella cristata4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Neon Damselfish
Pomacentrus coelestis3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Neon Dottyback
Pseudochromis aldabraensis3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanops2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Niger Triggerfish
Odonus niger11.8 in (30 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
One-Spot Foxface
Siganus unimaculatus7.9 in (20 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Orange Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion sandaracinos5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Orange-Spot Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris guttata4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia orbicularis3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion percula3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Pictus Blenny
Ecsenius pictus2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Pink-Spotted Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus leptocephalus3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Pinkbar Goby
Amblyeleotris aurora4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Pixy Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Purple Firefish
Nemateleotris decora3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Randall's Assessor
Assessor randalli3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Red Saddleback Anemonefish
Amphiprion ephippium5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Ecsenius gravieri3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Sankey's Dottyback
Pseudochromis sankeyi3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Schooling Bannerfish
Heniochus diphreutes8.3 in (21 cm)124 gal (470 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Scissortail Dartfish
Ptereleotris evides5.5 in (14 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Scopas Tang
Zebrasoma scopas7.9 in (20 cm)90 gal (340 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Scott's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus scottorum5.1 in (13 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Sebae Clownfish
Amphiprion sebae5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sharknose Goby
Elacatinus evelynae1.6 in (4 cm)13 gal (50 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)
Six-line wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion akallopisos4.3 in (11 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Snowflake Eel
Echidna nebulosa39.4 in (100 cm)50 gal (189 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Social fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis2.8 in (7 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus solorensis4.3 in (11 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Springer's Damsel
Chrysiptera springeri2.8 in (7 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Springer's Dottyback
Pseudochromis springeri2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Starck's Damsel
Chrysiptera starcki3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Starry Blenny
Salarias ramosus5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Striped Poison-Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus grammistes4.3 in (11 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Sunrise Dottyback
Pseudochromis flavivertex3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Tailspot blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Talbot's Damsel
Chrysiptera talboti2.4 in (6 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Three-Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus aruanus3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Two-barred Rabbitfish
Siganus virgatus11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Wheeler's Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris wheeleri3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Yellow Assessor
Assessor flavissimus2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Yellow Clown Goby
Gobiodon okinawae1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Halichoeres chrysus4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Yellowstriped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma3.1 in (8 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Yellowtail Damsel
Chrysiptera parasema2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Zebra Dartfish
Ptereleotris zebra4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
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