Saltwater Fish for Beginners

A saltwater aquarist has many options when it comes to choosing fish, but some fish are more difficult to keep than others. This list recommends some of the best fish for beginners to keep.

Full-size angelfish are beautiful and very popular, but they’re also finicky eaters, territorial, and too large for most beginners. But dwarf, or pygmy, angelfish are a great addition to most aquariums. They’re just as lovely as their bigger cousins, but they’re more peaceful, easier to feed, and, because they rarely exceed 4" (10 cm), they’re small enough for most aquariums­. Dwarf angelfish swim at all tank levels and prefer mini-reef setups with plenty of nooks for hiding. They’ll eat live food, frozen food, and algae.

The hardy damselfish species includes the beloved clownfish. Many damsels have been bred in captivity, making them even hardier. Though small (2–5" [5–12 cm]), damsels tend to be aggressive, especially with other damsels of different varieties. Try a group of 3–4 juveniles of one variety, and allow them to sort into their natural pecking order as they grow. Damsels tend to swim in the middle level and eat dried, live, frozen, and green foods.

Firefish are small (2 1/2" [6 cm]), burrowing, bottom-feeding fish that need a tank with a deep substrate. They’re generally easy to keep, though they may be intimidated by more aggressive species and are territorial with members of their own species. Keep more than one only if you have a large tank. Firefish prefer live food but can adapt to frozen.

Though they're bottom dwellers, hawkfish sometimes perch on top of coral, watching for passing prey. Only two types of hawkfish, the flame hawkfish and longnose hawkfish, can be kept in community tanks with other species. Hawkfish prefer live prey such as brine shrimp but will also accept frozen food. They require excellent water quality in order to thrive, and they grow to a maximum of about 4" (10 cm).

Shy, peaceful, and hardy, gobies are excellent fish for beginners, though they become aggressive with others of their own species unless purchased as a mated pair. Gobies do best with other peaceful fish of a similar size (up to 2" [5 cm]), and they prefer tanks with a deep substrate because they’re burrowing bottom dwellers. They’ll accept many kinds of food, as long as the pieces are small. Gobies are good jumpers, so make sure to keep their tank covered. The many goby species available for aquariums include the Catalina goby and neon goby.

Nocturnal and peaceful, cardinalfish can be kept in a community tank with other quiet fish. The most common aquarium species of cardinalfish are the spotted cardinalfish and the flamefish. Cardinalfish take only live or frozen food. They grow to about 3" (8 cm) and swim at the middle level.

Jawfish grow to about 4" (10 cm) and are shy, spending most of their time in a burrow at the bottom of the tank with only their heads and gills peeking out. They’re peaceful and easy to keep. Aggressive fish may harass them, though, so choose their tank mates carefully. Jawfish will take live and frozen food, as long as the pieces are very small.

Royal gramma make ideal additions to community aquariums because they’re small (3" [8 cm]), peaceful, brightly colored, and easy to keep. They do best in aquariums with plenty of dark nooks, crannies, and caves. They can be territorial with other members of their species, especially in a small tank, so stock more than one only if you have a very large tank. Royal grammas eat live, frozen, and flake food and require some green food in their diet as well. They swim at the middle level of the tank.

Small (3" [8 cm]) and colorful, dottybacks are often bred in captivity, making them a good choice for a first aquarium. They’re territorial, especially with members of their own species, so it’s best to keep only one unless you can obtain a mated pair. The many species of dottyback available for aquariums include the magenta dottyback, orchid dottyback, and neon dottyback. All types prefer live food, such as brine shrimp or bristleworms, but may also eat frozen or flake food.