18 Best Beginner Fish for Saltwater Tank

The benefits of an aquarium are widely recognized – not only are they beautiful but they are a wonderful way to relax, destress and unwind. And there’s also a deep satisfaction in establishing and nurturing your own.

While they do need a little know-how to care for, saltwater fish are amongst the most beautiful and colorful aquarium fish you can buy. But if you are a beginner and want to start a saltwater fish aquarium, it can be difficult to know where to start.

To help you get your new home aquarium up and running, we list 18 of the most popular saltwater fish for a beginner marine aquarium fish tank.

What Makes a Good Saltwater Fish for Beginners?

When looking for saltwater aquarium fish to start your own home reef tank, there are some certain key things you need to consider, as getting the right fish means as a beginner you will be able to meet all their needs.

It can also be an expensive undertaking to establish a fish aquarium and so you need to be sure the fish for saltwater tank you choose have every chance to thrive. And this means taking the following into account:

Compatibility

You need to choose saltwater fish varieties that can co-exist in a small space with other saltwater fish, and are ideally reef safe fish without significant aggressive, prey hunting or territorial behavior.

Ability to Live in a Smaller Tank

Getting the best fish tank for your chosen saltwater fish is essential. As most starter aquariums tend to be on the small to medium size, you need to include saltwater fish that can thrive in a smaller or more compact aquarium that suitable for its needs.

Hardy

Saltwater fish generally tend to be more sensitive to any fluctuations in their aquatic environment, so it’s wise as a beginner to opt for more adaptable and hardier varieties as you hone your aquarist skills.

Captive bred saltwater fish are generally more hardy than wild caught varieties and are more accustomed to the confines of an aquarium, making them easier to care for and keep happy and healthy.

Feeding 

Saltwater fish tend to need more food than freshwater fish to sustain a healthy condition and so their feed needs to be readily available. Flakes, pellets or frozen foods are all good choices. Also, be mindful of any fish species that may require specialist or live foods as they may not be the best choice for a beginner.

So, now we know the qualities to look for in the best saltwater fish for a beginner’s, aquarium here are 18 types of saltwater fish that match the description.

1. Coral Beauty Angelfish

• Essentials: hardy, easy to care for
• Temperament: semi-aggressive

If you’re starting out with a larger aquarium tank, then this colorful saltwater fish species will be an asset right from the get-go. Also known as the two spined angelfish, the coral beauty originates from the shallow reefs around the Indo-Pacific.

Coral beauties do need some space and places to hide, but this hardy little chap is easy to establish, will grow to no more than four inches and can live either individually or in a small school.

And with their stunning coloration – typically red, orange, or yellow, edged with darker blue or purple shades – and easy-care reputation make coral beauties an ideal starter species.

2. Yellow Watchman Goby

• Essentials: hardy, easy feeder, not good with other gobies
• Temperament: calm

One of the best saltwater aquarium fish for smaller tanks – a 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is ideal – the yellow watchman goby is a popular saltwater fish amongst aquarists.

They adapt well to reef life and are easy to care for as they are not particularly picky about what they eat. They are carnivores however, so need to be fed a variety of foods, including fresh and frozen foods, twice a day.

The only real issue with the yellow watchman goby is that, while they are sociable with other saltwater fish species, they don’t get on with their own so shouldn’t be kept with any other gobies in the same aquarium, especially of the same sex as they are prone to attack.

3. Japanese Pygmy Angelfish

• Essentials: can be expensive, adapts well, requires shelter
• Temperament: territorial

AKA, the flame angelfish, this gorgeous species is widely considered one of the best beginner saltwater fish as it adapts well to a new environment. However, is not totally a reef safe fish as it can nip at corals and invertebrates.

That aside, this is a stunning fish originating from central Japan as well as the Hawaiian Islands. But it is a bit of a rarity in the aquarium world and so can command a higher price.

The Japanese pygmy fish is active and so requires a decent amount of tank space and is best kept singly or as a mated pair, alongside other less-aggressive fish. And, as it is territorial, this fish is best added last to a tank when you are setting up a new aquarium.

4. Six Line Wrasse

• Essentials: inexpensive, easy care and lovely to look at
• Temperament: semi-aggressive

Ideal for a medium-sized aquarium, the six line wrasse is a popular saltwater fish for beginners as it is happily active and easy to care for.

A calm reef environment is best for this brightly colored small fish, with plenty of rocks and hiding places. And, as a carnivore he loves his food, so needs to be able to forage. He is also pretty predatory and can play a role in keeping his tank pest and parasite free.

While one of the shyest wrasses, the six line wrasse is, however, prone to bullying other fish, especially other wrasse and can be territorial if they discover a favorite hiding place.

5. True Percula Clownfish

• Essentials: omnivore, medium care, reef safe
• Temperament: semi-aggressive

One of the most popular saltwater fish species, the true percula clownfish is also one of the easiest to keep, making it an ideal beginner species.

With its bright orange body, three white stripes and thick black outline, the true percula is instantly recognizable, and they live up to their clown moniker. They definitely have a comedic personality and can be entertaining to watch.

In the wild, they also tend to stay in a small space on the reef, and have a slow swimming style, both of which make this species ideal for a medium aquarium life.

However, it can be easy to confuse the true percula with the ocellaris clownfish – or false percula clownfish – on which Disney’s Nemo was based. More on him later!

6. Tomato Clownfish

• Essentials: hardy, bold and easy to care for
• Temperament: territorial

With the bright red color of a ripe tomato, the tomato clownfish is an eye-catching saltwater fish and one of the larger fish in the clownfish family. And, as it’s a hardy species, it is a popular saltwater aquarium fish for beginners.

However, they can grow to a larger size and need plenty of swimming room, meaning they can often become a dominant species in your saltwater tank or marine aquarium.

Overall, they are a peaceful fish species and live well alongside other fish, as long as they are not other clownfish. However, if a group of clownfish are introduced to the tank at the same time, it is possible to maintain some harmony.

7. Firefish Goby

• Essentials: hardy, docile, doesn’t need a big space
• Temperament: peaceful

With a long, thin body and a gorgeous red, orange, or vibrant magenta tail, the firefish goby is small fish that’s a pleasure to have in any saltwater tank. And their laid-back nature and hardiness make them a great starter fish for the newbie marine aquarium keeper.

 Carnivores, the firefish goby works best singly or as a mated pair, but is docile, even shy with other species. And they don’t require huge amounts of space and can thrive in a tank as small as 20 gallons.

Non-confrontational, they are also fast movers and will dart away to hide. However, he is known to be a bit of a leaping athlete, so a tank cover is advised.

8. Dottyback

• Essentials: easy care level, hardy, wide color choice
• Temperament: semi-aggressive

The dottyback is a head-turner that will add a vibrant color pop to any saltwater aquariums. With those distinct spots across their body (hence the ‘dottyback’), this little fish comes in a kaleidoscope of colors, including blue, purple, and yellow as well as stunning bicolor pattern in half purple, half yellow.

As a starter saltwater aquarium fish, they work really well, as long as their environmental and feeding needs are met.

And while they can have an aggressive side, a well-kept dottyback in a medium or large tank will be non-confrontational with other fish, and just live a happy life.

9. Common Clownfish

• Essentials: territorial, active, omnivore
• Temperament: peace-loving

The common clownfish, also known as the ocellaris clownfish or the false percula clownfish, is another incredibly popular fish species for a beginner’s saltwater aquarium. And he’s lovely to look at – think Finding Nemo and you’ll know that this little fish will make you smile.

Fairly easy to care for, the ocellaris clownfish is territorial, and so will make his home in one part of the tank. And as an active marine fish, they are great fun to watch.

They are hardy too and can be distinguished from its lookalike, the true percula clownfish as the ocellaris has 11 dorsal spines, compared to the true percula’s 10.

10. Royal Gramma

• Essentials: hardy, affordable, sociable with other fish species
• Temperament: peaceful

With its acid-bright colors, the Royal Gramma is beautiful to look at and, thanks to its mini-size, can thrive in small to medium sized saltwater tanks. However, he can be a bit of a shy fellow and prefers plenty of rock hiding places and lower light.

Also known as the fairy basslet, the royal gramma comes from the reefs of the Caribbean. He will typically get along with most of his other tank mates, except dottybacks and other royal grammas as they can get territorial and aggressive with his own kind.

As a carnivore, they are easy to care for, and make a stunning addition to any starter saltwater aquarium, although they are best suited to tanks of 30 gallons or more, depending on how many other fish you plan to keep.

11. Pink Skunk Clownfish

• Essentials: very hardy, works well in a smaller reef aquarium
• Temperament: calm and sociable

The captive bred species of the pink skunk clownfish is very hardy and thrives in a saltwater aquarium environment.

Also known as the false skunk-striped anemonefish, this little fish has a gorgeous coloring, with a peach-orange base and a single white stripe running from the nose and down the back. He also has a smaller white stripe behind the eyes.

The female is larger than the male and is typically three to four inches long. These lovely fish will get along with most other tank mates and are happy reef dwellers, although they can demonstrate strong schooling behaviors.

12. Blonde Naso Tang

• Essentials: hardy, intelligent, needs a larger tank
• Temperament: calm

While it may take a little while for it to settle, the blonde naso tang will embrace the saltwater aquarium life.

Also known as the elegant tang or the orangespine unicorn fish due to its distinctive citrus dorsal fin, this is an intelligent fish, and can even be trained to eat food right out of your hand.

 The tang is best suited to more confident beginners due to its size, and its need to live in a larger aquarium. It can actually grow up to 18 inches and is a much sought-after species, living as long as 45 years.

The tang can be aggressive to other tangs but lives peacefully with other fish species. However, he does need plenty of space to swim and a tank lid is advisable.

13. Mandarin Goby

• Essentials: very hardy, require larger tanks and live rock
• Temperament: peaceful

 The mandarin goby – or mandarin dragonet – is a beautiful fish, standing out in any marine aquarium thanks to its kaleidoscope of blue, orange, and green in a mesmerizing wave pattern.

The mandarin is a hardy fish, especially the captive bred variety, but can be a challenge for some new aquarists due to its dietary needs.

Growing to around four inches long, the mandarin goby comes from the Indo-Pacific Ocean and in a tank environment, it can be a challenge to get them to eat prepared food. This means they need a larger tank – 75 gallons or more – where you can provide the live rock containing the saltwater copepods which they can graze for food.

However, with some patience, you can train the dragonet to accept prepared frozen food, ideally containing brine shrimp.

14. Green Chromis

• Essentials: cohabits with other fish, needs space to school
• Temperament: calm and peaceful

 Found in the shallow reefs of the South Pacific, the colorful green chromis is considered one of the best saltwater aquarium fish and it’s easy to see why.

They are relatively small and come in shimmering shades of green with a vibrant blue dorsal fin that looks stunning as they swim.

Inexpensive to buy and hardy, with a little know-how the green Chromis is an easy to keep fish that has a peaceful nature and can live happily alongside most other marine aquarium fish.

However, this small omnivore is also an avid schooler, so needs enough space for swimming and some live rock as well as coral formations to keep him happy.

15. Yellowtail Damselfish

• Essentials: hardy, easy keeper, good for smaller tanks
• Temperament: semi-aggressive

 In many ways the yellowtail damselfish is the perfect saltwater fish for the beginner as they thrive in smaller tanks around 30 gallons and are easy to take care of.

However, these mini-saltwater fish can have a semi-aggressive side, especially if intimidated or challenged, so their aquarium needs to offer the yellowtail damselfish plenty of places to hide.

At no more than three inches as an adult, the damselfish is compact and loves to be active, and is happy to eat prepared foods so makes this one of the easiest saltwater fish to keep.

And there’s no denying this fish is a beauty, with its electric blue body and acid yellow tail giving you hours of pleasure.

16. Flame Hawkfish

• Essentials: hardy, active, small tank compatible,
• Temperament: aggressive

 The flame hawkfish will add a vivid splash of color to any saltwater aquarium, thanks to its crimson body and black shading making its substantial dorsal fin pop.

While this species is not the cheapest for the beginner, it does work well in smaller tanks and is hardy and easy to keep.

However, it does have an aggressive side and can bully smaller marine aquarium fish. But in a tank with larger fish harmony should be restored. And he will need plenty of places to hide and ideally live rock to keep him occupied. He needs moving, oxygenated water too, to really thrive.

17. Bird Wrasse

• Essentials: active, hardy, needs space
• Temperament: aggressive

With its distinctive beak and shimmering green body, the bird wrasse is an interesting looking fish that’s best suited to larger saltwater aquarium tanks as he needs plenty of swimming space.

But in the right environment (with shallow burrows and a lid as he can also be a jumper!) this is a satisfying saltwater fish to keep.

Best for a confident beginner, the bird wrasse is hardy should be easy to maintain, although he can reach a foot in length. And you should account for their aggressive nature – so only one male, or a mating pair.

You also need to match the bird wrasse to the sizes of his other aquarium co-habitors as he can turn on smaller marine fish. But all the effort is worth it, as this is a striking fish to keep.

18. Cardinalfish

• Essentials: hardy, likes to school, active at night
• Temperament: can be semi-aggressive

The tank raised or captive bred cardinal fish is much sought after by aquarists, thanks to its elegant form, flowing fins and eye-catching striped body. But avoid wild caught cardinalfish as they have been over collected.

 The cardinal is a smaller saltwater fish, so works well with a small 30 gallon+marine aquarium if space is short. As a carnivore, they do need careful feeding, as they can be fussy eaters and will initially prefer frozen foods or live food to flakes or pellets.

But that aside, once settled, they are easy to keep and can live with other cardinalfish with no real worries. They do like to school, however, and are most active at night, so make sure they have sufficient space to do their thing.