Reef-safe saltwater fish
44 species from the AquaLog care guide · Updated
In short: Reef-safe fish are unlikely to eat or damage corals. That doesn't always mean safe with small shrimp and crabs, and several reef-safe fish are territorial or need very large tanks. Check each species' invertebrate notes and minimum tank size.
Every fish below is rated reef safe in the AquaLog care guide: it can share a tank with corals. Reef safety is about corals; the species pages also note how each fish behaves with invertebrates such as shrimp, crabs and snails.
Reef safe is not the same as easy
Several fish here need a large, mature system. Tangs need long swimming space, and the mandarin dragonet feeds on small live foods that only an established reef supplies. Check minimum tank size and care notes first.
The species
| Species | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | Temperament | Group | Care level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neon gobyElacatinus oceanops | 40 L (11 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Court jester gobyKoumansetta rainfordi | 60 L (16 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Intermediate |
| Tailspot blennyEcsenius stigmatura | 60 L (16 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Firefish gobyNemateleotris magnifica | 75 L (20 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Ocellaris clownfishAmphiprion ocellaris | 75 L (20 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 2+ | Beginner |
| Percula clownfishAmphiprion percula | 75 L (20 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 2+ | Beginner |
| Purple firefishNemateleotris decora | 75 L (20 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Springer's damselChrysiptera springeri | 75 L (20 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Talbot's damselChrysiptera talboti | 75 L (20 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Yellow watchman gobyCryptocentrus cinctus | 75 L (20 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Banggai cardinalfishPterapogon kauderni | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 3+ | Intermediate |
| Clarkii clownfishAmphiprion clarkii | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 2+ | Beginner |
| Coral hawkfishCirrhitichthys oxycephalus | 110 L (29 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Lawnmower blennySalarias fasciatus | 110 L (29 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Intermediate |
| Orchid dottybackPseudochromis fridmani | 110 L (29 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Pajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematoptera | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 3+ | Beginner |
| Royal grammaGramma loreto | 110 L (29 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Sixline wrassePseudocheilinus hexataenia | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Skunk clownfishAmphiprion perideraion | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 2+ | Beginner |
| Yellowtail damselfishChrysiptera parasema | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Blue green chromisChromis viridis | 130 L (34 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner |
| Longnose hawkfishOxycirrhites typus | 130 L (34 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Flame hawkfishNeocirrhites armatus | 150 L (40 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Black axil chromisChromis atripectoralis | 190 L (50 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 5+ | Beginner |
| Diamond watchman gobyValenciennea puellaris | 190 L (50 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Intermediate |
| Domino damselDascyllus trimaculatus | 190 L (50 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Fuzzy dwarf lionfishDendrochirus brachypterus | 210 L (55 gal) | 23–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Mandarin dragonetSynchiropus splendidus | 210 L (55 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Advanced |
| Maroon clownfishPremnas biaculeatus | 210 L (55 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 2+ | Intermediate |
| Melanurus wrasseHalichoeres melanurus | 210 L (55 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Intermediate |
| Yellow coris wrasseHalichoeres chrysus | 210 L (55 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Kole tangCtenochaetus strigosus | 265 L (70 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Intermediate |
| Marine bettaCalloplesiops altivelis | 265 L (70 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Intermediate |
| Sergeant majorAbudefduf saxatilis | 265 L (70 gal) | 23–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Green wolf eelCongrogadus subducens | 300 L (79 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Lyretail anthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis | 340 L (90 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 3+ | Intermediate |
| Yellow tangZebrasoma flavescens | 340 L (90 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Cleaner wrasseLabroides dimidiatus | 380 L (100 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 1 | Advanced |
| Snowflake eelEchidna nebulosa | 380 L (100 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Convict tangAcanthurus triostegus | 450 L (119 gal) | 24–28 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Peaceful | 3+ | Intermediate |
| Yellowtail blue tangZebrasoma xanthurum | 450 L (119 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Powder blue tangAcanthurus leucosternon | 570 L (151 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Aggressive | 1 | Advanced |
| Blue tangParacanthurus hepatus | 680 L (180 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Advanced |
| Sailfin tangZebrasoma desjardinii | 680 L (180 gal) | 24–27 °C | 8.1–8.4 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Advanced |
Good first reef fish
Many reefkeepers start with captive-bred clownfish such as the ocellaris, a goby, or a royal gramma: small, hardy and suited to modest tanks. Add fish slowly in a mature, stable system. See the reef targets in aquarium water parameters explained.