If you are considering buying a pet, saltwater fish is the way to go! There are hundreds and thousands of species available, so choosing the right one may be a problem. We’ve gathered some coolest species out there, from colorful tiny fish to the striking larger ones. So let’s dive deeper (pun intended!) into some recommendations to help you make a good purchase!
The Famous Saltwater Fish:
Green Chromis
The Green Chromis is damselfish and is known for its peaceful and playful nature. Their highly active behaviors and shoaling bring enough energy to the tank to liven it up. For over 30 years, its flamboyant personality and beautiful tint make it the most imported saltwater fish species in the whole saltwater aquarium trade. Trust me, their price is affordable! Additionally, they are reef compatible and can live up to 8+ years, which is amazing, isn’t it? Usually, it can be expected from a green Chromis to grow up to three inches in an aquarium, and four inches for the wild ones.
This type of fish is an omnivore, which means they can consume both plant and animal matter. They have been known for eating the unhatched fish eggs. The fish are fantastic eaters, fortunately. They will eat just anything you offer them, including meat, vegetables, and frozen food too. They make the most impressive school in the home saltwater aquarium.
Overall, their affordability, stunning coloration, and ease to keep making them a must-have.
Common Clownfish
The most surprising fact about clownfish is that they are all born male! Surprisingly, they can switch from male to female to reproduce and become dominant. It is to be noted that there is a strict hierarchy of dominance in clownfish. The aggressive and the largest female is found at the top. Making them one of the coolest saltwater fish to own.
They are likely to live longer and require less space (not more than a tank as small as 10 gallons). Getting famous from Finding Nemo, clownfish is strikingly orange in color with three stripes of white, one at the head, middle, and tail. They are designed to grow from 2 to 5 inches. Males are significantly smaller than females. They are highly active and aggressive too.
They are liable to eat the plankton floating in the water or algae from the reef surface. Often known for their symbiotic relationship with anemones (that can sting animals), clownfish have a protective slime layer that protects them. Clownfish tend to be one of the early purchases of a fish buyer, there is no need to buy a wild-caught clownfish. Buying an aquacultured clownfish also referred to as a captive breed, will work for you. To add a WOW factor to your saltwater aquarium– add some pretty orange clownfish!
Banggai Cardinalfish
People incline to have a love and hate relationship with Banggai cardinalfish, but still, enough people love it to make it one of the most popular and coolest saltwater fish to own. It is a small bony fish with a lifespan of up to 5 years. It has brilliant colors with a contrast of black bars with white spots over a sliver body. Their dot pattern makes them look attractive in a saltwater aquarium and unique from other individual fish. By and large, males and females look the same, but, on average, the male cardinalfish have a large mouth gape and can be identified while brooding as their oral cavity enlarges.
Banggai Cardinalfish being carnivores, eat other small animals around them and planktonic organisms. They are loved because of their unique shape, flowing and longish fins, gigantic eyes, vertical black lines, white dots, and their peaceful behavior towards others, making them fit for your saltwater aquarium.
Be aware of the fact that they seem friendly towards each other, but once they grow up as adults and pair off, they can get downright unfriendly. Aquacultured Banggai Cardinalfish is still one of the very famous reef fish, you will not regret buying. While buying it, avoid buying a wild-caught one, because in that case, you are going to regret buying it.
Coral Beauties
Our personal favorite, coral beauty Angelfish is one of the easiest Angelfish to care for in an aquarium. Also known as Dusky or Two Spined Angelfish, they are bright blue with an iridescent yellowish-orange shade making them the most beautiful fish to have in your saltwater aquarium. They are inexpensive, as compared to other angelfishes, and are available at local fish stores. Though they only grow up to four inches but still need a larger tank (55 to 70 gallons) with lots of hiding places and to swim actively. Specifically, algae, and commonly everything they find in the tank, is what they eat. They do not have any strict dietary needs.
Royal Gramma
Since we are talking about the coolest saltwater fish to own, Royal Grammas can’t be missed. For your new saltwater aquariums, Royal Gramma is a good beginner fish to buy. They are so vibrant to liven up your tank, with a small requirement of space (30 gallons). The prettiest purple front and sunny yellow rear make them all crucial to have. They can be fed a selection of food because they are not fussy eaters. The fish are hardy, flawlessly sized, and are not busy hiding; they spend time out in open water.
Betta Fish
Bet-tah, not Bay-tah fish, have long been favorites of hobbyists. Also known as Siamese fighting fish or labyrinth fish, Bettas are so small in size and so pretty making them the cutest of all. The male counterparts are devoted to building nests for the young ones with their mouths to protect the babies from other predators. How cute, right? They are active during the day and require darkness at night to get sleep (they are diurnal). Also, their lifespan is up to 3-4 years.
They are carnivores and mostly eat insects and larvae in nature. Plant roots may keep them alive for a while, but in the long run, due to lack of adequate nutrients in plant roots, they eventually die. Overfeeding Bettas is also harmful. Here is a tip: provide them only as much food as they can finish in three minutes.
The most convincing fact about Betta fish is that they are so intelligent that they can recognize their owners– especially the one feeding them. They learn what their feeding time is, and they swim when they see their guardian approaching. Lovely, tiny creatures they are!
Firefish
The firefish is a little fancy saltwater creature, and it is an addition to your aquarium. It is also labeled as “dartfish” because of its habit of darting back into hiding. The size of an adult firefish is 3 inches, and they can live up to 3 years, usually.
Yellowface, front half white, and rear half red make it unique from others. It is nearly a perfect tank mate, as it doesn’t bother other fish. These pretty gobies are easily eaten up by lionfish, angelfish, or triggers. Do not pair up them together.
Though they are small in size and can survive in small saltwater aquariums, larger aquarium tanks are suggested because of their darting nature, as mentioned earlier. If you do not want to lose your firefish, keep it in a tightly fitting lid. You will never be able to see it again.
Firefish gobies are omnivorous, along with zooplankton and algae, like to eat meat or frozen seafood. It is recommended to feed your fish 2 to 3 times a day to ensure a good diet.
Butterflyfish
Even the name of this fish is cool. Butterflyfish make a good centerpiece due to its compelling shape and size. According to National Geographic, there are more or less 114 recorded species of saltwater Butterflyfish. Though, all of them are not suitable for home aquariums because some of them try to eat corals. And, they need a good-sized aquarium (at least up to 75 gallons).
The adult size of a moderate butterflyfish is between 4 to 9 inches. They are deep-bodied and are thin from the sides, and are quick-moving fishes. Their maintenance is comparatively more difficult than other fishes depending on the type of butterflyfish. Their striking pattern makes them unique in the fish trade. They are exotic, and their swimming movement is admirable. Their unique shape and striking color make them a great fish to own.
Conclusion
Owning a saltwater fish may require patience and dedication, but once you’re used to it, you’ll love having them. They can enhance the beauty of your aquarium and make it worth a stare for guests. By the way, what is your favorite Saltwater Fish so far? Let us know in the comments!
