Is keeping marine fish difficult?

While more water quality management is needed compared to freshwater, starting with hardy species like clownfish or blue-green chromis makes it very manageable for beginners. Stable salinity and temperature are key.

How much do marine fish cost?

Clownfish range from 2,000-5,000 yen, blue tangs from 5,000-15,000 yen, and popular angelfish from 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on species and size.

How long do marine fish live?

Small fish live 5-10 years, while medium species like angelfish can live 10-20+ years. Proper environment and nutrition enable long-term care.

What should I check when buying marine fish?

Check for white spots or injuries on the body, intact fins, and that the fish is eating well. Choosing quarantined specimens gives extra peace of mind.

What equipment is needed for marine fish?

Basic equipment includes a tank, salt mix, refractometer, canister filter or overflow system, heater, and protein skimmer. Starting with a 60cm+ tank is recommended.

Marine Fish Encyclopedia — 80 Species Directory

Encyclopedia of popular marine fish species with care guides, traits, and water parameters.

Featured Marine Fish

Harlequin Tuskfish

All Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Small Hardy Beautiful Yellow Algae eater Reef-safe Reef safe Schooling Peaceful Purple Cleaner Large Tang Marine fish Mouthbrooder

Showing 21 of 80 species

Anthias

Intermediate

A beautiful schooling fish in vivid pink or orange. Spectacular when kept in groups.

AnthiasSchoolingPink

Banggai Cardinalfish

Banggai cardinalfish

Intermediate

Silver body with black vertical bars and star-like white spots. Unique mouthbrooding behavior. Ideal kept as pairs.

MouthbrooderPair keepingPeaceful

Blue Tang

Paracanthurus hepatus

Intermediate

Stunning royal blue body with yellow tail. Active swimmer requiring large tanks. Prone to ich — strict water quality is essential. Global popularity boosted by film.

IntermediateLargeActive swimmer

Chevron Tang

Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis

Intermediate

Juveniles are vivid orange with chevron patterns. Adults turn olive but serve as excellent detritivores, significantly contributing to tank cleanliness.

IntermediateDetritivoreCleaner

Cleaner Wrasse

Labroides dimidiatus

Intermediate

Cleaner fish that eats parasites from other fish. Sets up cleaning stations in tank — fun to watch fish queue up.

Cleaner fishParasite removalSymbiotic

Flame Angelfish

Flame angelfish

Intermediate

Small angelfish with vivid red-orange body and black vertical bars. One of the most popular marine angelfish.

PopularAngelfishColorful

Flame Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus jordani

Intermediate

Hawaiian endemic wrasse with vivid red-orange flame-like coloration. Males display even more vivid nuptial colors. Peaceful nature ideal for reef tanks. A deeper water species.

IntermediateBeautifulReef safe

Foxface Rabbitfish

Foxface rabbitfish

Intermediate

Yellow body with fox-like face. Excellent algae eater for tank cleaning. Venomous dorsal spines.

Algae eaterYellowVenomous spines

Harlequin Tuskfish

Choerodon fasciatus

Intermediate

Large wrasse with blue, orange, and white stripes and blue tusks. Crushes urchins and shellfish. Relatively peaceful despite size. Popular for large tanks.

IntermediateLargeWrasse

Jawfish

Intermediate

A charming fish that digs burrows and peeks out. Some species are mouthbrooders, a unique fish.

JawfishBurrowMouthbrooder

Lemonpeel Angelfish

Lemonpeel angelfish

Intermediate

Bright lemon-yellow body with blue eye ring. Popular small angelfish. Somewhat feisty but manageable size.

AngelfishYellowSmall

Lionfish

Intermediate

A marine fish with beautiful fan-like fins and stripes. Dorsal spines carry strong venom.

LionfishVenomousFan fins

Longnose Butterflyfish

Forcipiger flavissimus

Intermediate

Distinctive butterflyfish with elongated snout and bright yellow body. Picks tiny prey from rock crevices. Among the hardiest butterflyfish with good feeding response.

IntermediateButterflyfishYellow

Longnose Hawkfish

Oxycirrhites typus

Intermediate

Distinctive red crosshatch pattern and elongated snout. Endearing perching behavior on corals and rocks. Carnivorous and feisty.

UniquePerching behaviorCarnivorous

Lyretail Anthias

Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Intermediate

Schooling saltwater fish with beautiful pink to orange body color. Females are orange, males have vivid coloring with purple lines. Popular intermediate-level species that makes tanks vibrant when schooled.

AnthiasSchoolingPink

Marine Betta

Calloplesiops altivelis

Intermediate

Beautiful fish with white spots on black body like a starry sky, plus false eyespot near tail. Hides in rocks with nocturnal tendencies. Uniquely graceful swimmer.

IntermediateBeautifulNocturnal

McCosker's Flasher Wrasse

Paracheilinus mccoskeri

Intermediate

Beautiful small wrasse with orange body and neon blue lines. Males 'flash' by spreading fins during courtship — hence the name. Reef safe and community-friendly.

IntermediateSmallBeautiful

Purple Firefish

Nemateleotris decora

Intermediate

A beautiful dartfish with purple body and elongated dorsal fin. Shy but stunning coloration.

PurpleFirefishPurple

Shrimp Goby

Intermediate

Fascinating goby that lives with pistol shrimp. Shrimp digs burrow, goby acts as lookout. Observe natures wonder in your tank.

SymbiosisPistol shrimpSand bed

Valentini Puffer

Canthigaster valentini

Intermediate

Cute mini puffer with white, black, yellow stripes and blue around eyes. Charming round eyes and swimming style. May nip coral — better for FOWLR tanks.

IntermediatePufferCute

Yellow Tang

Yellow tang

Intermediate

Iconic marine fish with brilliant all-yellow body. Eats algae, serving as tank cleaner. Hardy and long-lived.

PopularYellowAlgae eater

Browse Marine Fish Listings

Marine Fish FAQ

Is keeping marine fish difficult?: While more water quality management is needed compared to freshwater, starting with hardy species like clownfish or blue-green chromis makes it very manageable for beginners. Stable salinity and temperature are key.
How much do marine fish cost?: Clownfish range from 2,000-5,000 yen, blue tangs from 5,000-15,000 yen, and popular angelfish from 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on species and size.
How long do marine fish live?: Small fish live 5-10 years, while medium species like angelfish can live 10-20+ years. Proper environment and nutrition enable long-term care.
What should I check when buying marine fish?: Check for white spots or injuries on the body, intact fins, and that the fish is eating well. Choosing quarantined specimens gives extra peace of mind.
What equipment is needed for marine fish?: Basic equipment includes a tank, salt mix, refractometer, canister filter or overflow system, heater, and protein skimmer. Starting with a 60cm+ tank is recommended.