The 10 Best Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Beginners

Owning and maintaining a saltwater aquarium is not really more challenging than freshwater aquariums, as many suggest. There is just less of a margin for error, as saltwater fish can sense even the smallest change in their environment. Maintaining proper pH levels in a saltwater tank is also tricky at first - saltwater fish cannot adapt as quickly or as well to fast fluctuations and changes to their water. If you choose the route of the saltwater aquarium, you're in for a very rewarding experience, for just a bit more effort.

Choosing the fish to stock your saltwater aquarium is exciting. There are many beautiful and interesting varieties of fish available, many of which are great for beginners and get along well with other fish. This list will help you choose your new aquatic friends and create a beautiful marine atmosphere in your home!

Watchman Gobies
Watchman gobies in a few varieties (yellow, diamond, spotted) are excellent beginner fish, and add a touch of character to your tank. These fish are not often fierce with other fish, but might pick brief fights with other types of gobies.

Blue Tangs
These fish eat both meaty food (like brine shrimp) as well as algae. Blue tangs sometimes fight amongst each other, but normally don't cause too much of a problem at all. These fish are good for beginners as long as their needs are met - like lots of space to swim!

Yellow Tangs
This is a common saltwater fish, and is notorious for getting along swell with other varieties of fish. Unfortunately, yellow tangs seem to have more of a problem with other surgeonfish than anything else, acting aggressively almost all the time unless they are introduced to the environment together.

Wrasses
Bird, lined, and elegant wrasses are wonderful fish to add to your saltwater aquarium. These fish bury themselves in the sand much of the time, and are very compatible with most other species of fish. All species of wrasses are brightly colored and beautiful, and would make a wonderful addition to your saltwater tank.

Clownfish
There are many different breeds of clownfish, and many you'll find at a pet shop are tank-bred. Clownfish eat both meaty food as well as greens, and can get along with other breeds of clownfish when introduced to your environment at the same time. Give these fish plenty of places to nestle and hide!

Firefish
Firefish are small, colorful, beautiful fish that swim together in a graceful synchronized manner. These fish have a varied diet and need some smaller places to hide, and they tend to get along with everything except eels. Sometimes they'll get chased by their bigger tank-mates, but they're quick and fun to watch.

Butterfly Fish
These are gorgeous and varied fish, some are striped, dotted, and some have splashes of colors. Any variety of butterfly fish would be a gorgeous addition to your tank - but make sure you choose a kind that works best for its tank-mates! These fish eat flake food and love to duck behind big rock or coral shelters.

Reef Chromis
These fish are a lovely greenish blue, and very easy to manage as a beginner. They're peaceful to watch and eat an easy to manage diet, and are known to be one of the hardiest saltwater fish you can buy. They get along with most every species and don't need too many varied places to hide.

Clown Gobies
Gobies are generally easy to keep, and clown gobies are another good example. These small pretty fish have sometimes loveable faces, making them a charming addition to your tank. They like branching coral and long greenery, and many favor brine shrimp and table shrimp.

Coral Beauties
Coral beauties are angelfish that are beautiful through and through - peaceful and graceful to watch, with colors and patterns that add a lovely dash of class to your aquarium. These fish need live rock and plenty of swimming space, and aren't really the greatest choice for a coral based habitat, despite their name.

Here is a compatibility chart for fish in your saltwater aquarium.

Helpful Sources:
www.liveaquaria.com
www.fishlore.com