Saltwater Aquarium Fish

There are so many different types of fish you can purchase for your saltwater aquarium that the beginning aquarist could be forgiven for becoming somewhat confused over which are the best fish to start out with or to add to a tank.

You should not purchase fish solely on their looks. Sure, we all want beautiful fish in our tanks but you also need to consider the needs and suitability of certain fish for your tank. Not all fish can be housed together and not every type of fish will suit your particular saltwater aquarium setup.

It pays to know which fish will survive and thrive in your aquarium. You should ask your local store for their recommendations as well as doing research online.

Here I will go through a few of the more popular saltwater aquarium fish species. Keep in mind that this is only the tip of the iceberg; there are literally hundreds of species to choose from!

Clownfish

Clownfish are extremely popular saltwater aquarium fish. Without a doubt, the movie Finding Nemo turned the clownfish into a celebrity and everyone wanted one. They are also beautiful fish and are at home in most aquariums. The clownfish is a hardy species and generally lives for quite a long time.
You should try not to mix various clownfish species together. They can be territorial and become aggressive.

Angelfish

Angelfish come in a variety of sizes. Large angelfish species can grow very large (up to and over a foot long) and are territorial so if you want to keep the large species you will need quite a big tank. Keep in mind that larger angelfish can be very expensive; up to $100 each so make sure your tank is in tip top condition before introducing one of these.
Smaller angelfish such as the Dwarf Angelfish grow to about 4 inches long and are extremely popular saltwater aquarium fish. Consider the beautiful Flame Angelfish, Tibicen Angelfish, Black Nox Angelfish or the Half Black Angelfish. There are many other types as well.

Other fish you can place in your saltwater tank include:

Here we have outlined just a few of the saltwater fish you can choose from. I highly recommend clownfish and the smaller angel fish for the beginner as they are hardy, beautiful fish.

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