Not all saltwater fish are suitable for beginners. Some are very sensitive to water conditions, some are aggressive or territorial, some are difficult to feed or care for, and some are very expensive or rare. If you are new to saltwater aquariums, you may have already realized how daunting it can be to learn about the hundreds of different fish available.
So, to make things a bit easier and so you can spend more time enjoying your aquarium, I will introduce you to 15 of the best saltwater fish for beginners, including a few lesser-known personal favorites. These fish are all reef-safe, meaning they will not harm or eat your corals or other invertebrates. They are also compatible with each other as long as you provide enough space and hiding places for them.
#1 Clownfish
Who doesn’t love a good “Nemo” fish? Clownfish are ideal for beginners who want a colorful and lively addition to their saltwater tank. They are hardy, friendly, easy to feed and care for, and fun to watch. They will bring a lot of personality and charm to your aquarium. Plus, you can have more than one in the same tank.
#2 Lawnmower Blenny
Lawnmower blennies are perfect for beginners who want a saltwater fish that is hardy, peaceful, easy to feed and care for, and helpful for controlling algae in their tank. Yes, they actually have their own job. They are also very amusing and interesting to observe, which is one of the reasons they are near the top of my favorites list. I have spent hours watching mine just bounce around the rockwork. They will add a lot of character and diversity to your aquarium. They are also known as algae, jeweled, or rockhopper blennies. It’s usually advisable to have only one in a tank unless you have a big tank.
#3 Three Stripe Damsel
Three stripe damsels are another popular and easy-to-care-for saltwater fish for beginners. They will add a lot of movement and vibrancy to your aquarium. They are also known as sergeant majors, humbugs, or domino damsels. They can sometimes be aggressive and territorial, so you need to be careful when choosing their tankmates and monitor their behavior. Mine got sentenced to the sump for poor behavior; after a month, he was returned to the display tank and has been a model citizen ever since. That was two years ago.
#4 Blue Green Chromis
Also known as blue green damselfish, green chromis, or blue reef chromis. Blue green chromis are perfect for beginners who want a saltwater fish that is peaceful, social, hardy, and easy to feed and care for. They are naturally schooling fish, so get a few and watch them dart around together. Full of beauty and grace, they’ll add a lot of charm and elegance to your aquarium.
#5 Royal Gramma Basslet
Royal Gramma basslets are another stunning and easy-to-care-for saltwater fish. They are also known as fairy basslets, grammas, or goldies. Ideal for beginners who want a very beautiful and vibrant fish that will add a lot of contrast and color.
Royal gramma basslets are very peaceful, but shy, fish that will hide among the rocks or corals in your tank. They will dart out to feed or explore, then retreat back to their hiding place. They can get along with most other fish in your tank as long as they are not too large or aggressive.
#6 Yellow Watchman Goby
Yellow watchman gobies are very peaceful and timid fish that will burrow in the substrate or hide among the rocks or corals in your tank. They will poke their head out to feed or watch what is going on in the tank. They can get along with most other fish in your tank as long as they are not too large or aggressive.
Yellow watchman gobies are very interesting and unique fish that have a symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimps. Pistol shrimps are small crustaceans with one enlarged claw that can snap loudly and produce a water jet that can stun or kill their prey or predators. Pistol shrimps use their claw to dig burrows in the substrate where they live and hide.
Yellow watchman gobies and pistol shrimps form a mutualistic partnership, where they share the same burrow and help each other survive. The goby acts as a lookout for the shrimp, alerting it to any danger or food nearby. The shrimp acts as a builder and protector for the goby, maintaining the burrow and defending it with its claw. The goby and the shrimp communicate with each other by touch, using their fins or antennae.
If you want to keep a yellow watchman goby and a pistol shrimp together, you need to provide them with a suitable substrate, such as sand or gravel, that they can dig in. You also need to choose a compatible species of pistol shrimp, such as the tiger pistol shrimp, the candy cane pistol shrimp, or the bullseye pistol shrimp.
Yellow watchman gobies are perfect for beginners who want a fascinating and adorable fish, especially when paired with a pistol shrimp. They’re sure to add a lot of personality and charm to your aquarium. They are also known as yellow prawn gobies, yellow shrimp gobies, or banded prawn gobies.
#7 Banggai Cardinal Fish
Another schooling fish, Banggai cardinal fish, are ideal for beginners. They are also known as Kaudern’s cardinal fish or longfin cardinal fish. While they don’t move around quickly like the Chromis, their more smooth, methodical movements are fascinating to watch.
#8 Firefish
Firefish are small, slender fish with a white body, red-orange head, and tail. They have a long and pointed dorsal fin, and a forked tail. They can grow up to 3 inches in length. They are also known as fire dartfish, fire goby, or magnificent dartfish.
Firefish are easy beginner fish and usually very active. As some of their other names suggest, they dart around everywhere. It’s common for them to hide when introduced into a new aquarium, sometimes for weeks. Once they venture out, you’ll notice how beautiful and vibrant they are when they add tons of color and flair to your aquarium.
#9 Pajama Cardinal
Another slow easy-going cardinal fish, the Pajama cardinal, is a great beginner fish. They are very peaceful, somewhat social, extra hardy, and easy to feed and care for. Often kept in pairs.
#10 Diamond Watchman Goby
Here’s another great fish with a job. Diamond Watchman Gobies (sand-sifting goby) will clean sand through hell and high water. Unfortunately, they have a tendency to dig out under your rockwork and cover stuff with sand. As long as you’re willing to watch for anything that needs to be fixed (not actually that bad in most cases), these are extremely amusing fish.
Diamond Watchman gobies are perfect for beginners and are also very beneficial for your tank, as they help keep the substrate clean and aerated. They will add a lot of personality and charm to your aquarium. Other names they are known as are orange spotted gobies, orange spotted sleeper gobies, or orange spotted sand sifters.
#11 Starry Blenny
Starry blennies are another great choice for beginners who want a saltwater fish that is easy to care for and beneficial for their tank. They are also known as snowflake blennies, salarias blennies, or starred blennies.
Starry blennies are very active and entertaining to watch. They will hop from rock to rock, looking for algae to munch on. They will also perch on corals or equipment, using their modified pelvic fins as suction cups. They may even jump out of the water if they see something interesting above the surface.
Starry blennies are very peaceful and can get along with most other fish in your tank. However, they may be territorial towards other blennies or similar-looking fish. They may also be shy or timid when first introduced to your tank, so you must provide plenty of hiding places and cover.
#12 Yellow Coris Wrasse
Yellow coris wrasses are another beautiful and easy-to-care-for saltwater fish for beginners. They are also known as golden rainbowfish, yellowtail coris wrasse, or canary wrasse.
Yellow coris wrasses are small and colorful fish that have a yellow body with a black eye spot on their dorsal fin. They have a long and slender shape and a pointed snout. They can grow up to 4 inches in length.
Yellow coris wrasses are very active and energetic fish that will swim all over your tank. They are also very curious and playful and will investigate anything that catches their attention. They can get along with most other fish in your tank as long as they are not too large or aggressive.
Yellow coris wrasses are ideal for beginners who want a wrasse that is colorful, active, hardy, and much less aggressive than other wrasses. They are also very amusing and interesting to watch; adding a lot of movement and vibrancy to your aquarium.
#13 Midas Blenny
Midas blennies are another stunning and easy-to-care-for saltwater fish for beginners. They are also known as golden blennies, lyretail blennies, or yellow blennies.
Midas blennies are small, slender fish with a golden-yellow body and a blue eye spot on their dorsal fin. They have a long and flowing tail fin that resembles a lyre. They can grow up to 6 inches in length.
Midas blennies are very peaceful and shy fish that will hide among the rocks or corals in your tank. They will come out to feed or swim in pairs or groups. They can get along with most other fish in your tank as long as they are not too large or aggressive.
Midas blennies are perfect for beginners who want a saltwater fish that is peaceful, shy, hardy, and easy to feed and care for. They are also very beautiful and graceful, adding a lot of elegance and charm to your aquarium.
#14 Lyretail Anthias
Lyretail anthias are another gorgeous and easy-to-care-for saltwater fish. They are also known as sea goldies, scalefin anthias, or red fairy basslets.
Lyretail anthias are small and super colorful fish. Males have a pink-red body with a yellow tail, and females (pictured) are orange and gold with a bright purple eye ring. They have a sleek and streamlined shape and a forked tail.
They stay small, only growing up to 5 inches in length.
Lyretail anthias are very peaceful and social fish that will form schools or groups. They will swim in your tank’s upper or middle levels, adding a lot of movement and color. They can get along with most other fish in your tank as long as they are not too large or aggressive.
Lyretail anthias are ideal for beginners who want an extremely beautiful schooling fish.
#15 Sunburst Anthias
Potentially saving the best for last. One of my all-time personal favorites, the Sunburst anthias, is another fantastic beginner fish. They are also known as fathead anthias, sunburst fairy basslets, or orange anthias.
Sunburst anthias are small and colorful fish that have a pink body, orange going back along the dorsal fin, and orange stripes on the head. They have a sleek and streamlined shape and a forked tail. They can grow up to 4 inches in length.
Sunburst anthias are very peaceful and social fish that will form schools or groups. Similar to the Lyretail, they will swim in your tank’s upper or middle levels, adding tons of movement and color. They get along with most other fish in your tank as long as they are not too large or aggressive.
Sunburst anthias are perfect for beginners but are often a bit more expensive than most people want for a first fish. But if you do get one, they are incredibly beautiful and vibrant, adding a lot of contrast and color to your aquarium.
Final Thoughts
That’s it! These are 15 of the best saltwater fish for beginners that you can choose from. We hope this article has helped you find the right fish for your saltwater tank. Remember to research the specific needs and requirements of each fish species you want to keep and provide them with the best care possible. Happy fish keeping! 😊
