There is a huge variety of stunning saltwater fish available to keep in the home aquarium but which ones are the best saltwater fish for beginners?
Perhaps you want to create your own ‘Finding Nemo’. Maybe you like the look of yellow tangs, puffer fish or tiger fish?
Do you want a peaceful community tank or one with larger predatory fish?
Take care though on your choice of fish.
Some fish, on display in your local fish store or online, can get really large requiring a huge tank.
Others have very specialised requirements for feeding or habitat so, do plenty or research first on any fish you wish to keep.
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Best Saltwater Fish For Small Tanks
Due to the expense, most beginners to keeping saltwater fish are going to start with a smaller tank of around 60 -120 litres.
That’s just fine! You can create a small but stunning slice of the ocean in your home or office, with beautiful fish and amazing corals, for a fairly modest budget.
All the fish listed below can be successfully kept in smaller tanks.
Our Top Saltwater Fish For Beginners
Listed below are our top saltwater fish for beginners. All of the fish listed are both peaceful, fairly easy to keep and will get along with each other.
1. Banggai Cardinal
- Max Size: 7.5cm
- Min Tank Size: 60 Litres
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Temp: 77-82 deg F
- PH: 8.0 – 8.4 / Salinity 1.020 – 1.026
- Feeding: Flake, pellets, frozen Mysis and brine shrimp
- Reef safe: Yes
The Banggai Cardinal is a beautiful and peaceful fish that is ideal for beginners with smaller tanks.
It is both reef-safe and will get along with other tank inhabitants. Keep singly in nano tanks but a small shoal can be kept in larger tanks (above 400 litres).
Banggai Cardinal will readily breed in the home aquarium and after breeding the male incubates the eggs in his mouth and even retains the small fry there after hatching.
A breeding pair may become aggressive to other tank mates if they get too close.
2. Firefish
- Max Size: 8cm
- Min Tank Size: 60 Litres
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful and timid
- Temp: 77-82 deg F
- PH: 8.0 – 8.4 / Salinity 1.020 – 1.026
- Feeding: Flake, pellets, frozen Mysis and brine shrimp
- Reef safe: Yes
A stunning and unusual fish, the firefish goby is easy to keep and very peaceful. They can be timid so do not keep with any aggressive tank mates.
They require lots of hiding places and can be prone to jumping so a tight-fitting lid or fish guard is essential.
They can be kept in groups when small but may become aggressive to their own species when they mature.
3. Royal Gramma
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- Max Size: 8cm
- Min Tank Size: 120 Litres
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Temp: 77-82 deg F
- PH: 8.0 – 8.4 / Salinity 1.020 – 1.026
- Feeding: Flake, pellets, frozen Mysis and brine shrimp
- Reef safe: Yes
With a startling blend of colours, the Royal Gramma makes a great addition to any saltwater aquarium.
They can be kept singly in nano tanks but are better in a slightly larger tank with plenty of rockwork to hide in.
Although generally peaceful, they will become aggressive to other tank inhabitants if they get too close to their hidey-hole.
Do not keep with other grammas or dottybacks.
4. Tailspot Blenny
- Max Size: 5cm
- Min Tank Size: 60 Litres
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Temp: 77-82 deg F
- PH: 8.0 – 8.4 / Salinity 1.020 – 1.026
- Feeding: Algae flakes, frozen Mysis and brine shrimp
- Reef safe: Yes
The Tailspot blenny has a great personality and is a fun addition to any small peaceful saltwater tank.
They are great to watch as they hop between rock ledges and holes in the rocks.
Whilst they will readily eat meaty foods, like frozen Mysis and brine shrimp, as herbivores they also require the addition of algae-based flakes or discs.
If you have algae in your tank they will readily pick at it but don’t get one just for that purpose, they are just not big enough to solve an algae problem if you have one.
5. Blue Reef Chromis
- Max Size: 12cm
- Min Tank Size: 120 Litres
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Temp: 77-82 deg F
- PH: 8.0 – 8.4 / Salinity 1.020 – 1.026
- Feeding: Flake, pellets, frozen Mysis and brine shrimp
- Reef safe: Yes
Ideally, the Blue Reef Chromis should be kept in a shoal of 6-8 in a large tank but they can be kept singly in smaller tanks.
They are peaceful with most other tank mates but not other Chromises so do add if you already have a Green Chromis in your tank.
They will eat just about anything and are always out and about cruising the mid and top sections of the tank.
6. Yellow Watchman Goby
One of our favourite saltwater fish, the Yellow Watchman goby packs personality.
To find out more, see our article My Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp Pair.
7. Clown Fish
- Max Size: 9cm
- Min Tank Size: 120 Litres
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Temperament: Can be aggressive
- Temp: 77-82 deg F
- PH: 8.0 – 8.4 / Salinity 1.020 – 1.026
- Feeding: Flake, pellets, frozen Mysis and brine shrimp
- Reef safe: With caution
What can we say about Clownfish? After all, they are easily the most popular of all saltwater fish and often the reason people want a saltwater tank in the first place.
The common clownfish (Ocellaris pictured) is the one most people go for and they can be fine for beginners in smaller tanks.
Be aware though that a breeding pair will become aggressive to other tank mates, particularly the much larger female.
In the wild, they are hosted by anemones and this can be recreated in the home aquarium but is not always successful.
Some clownfish without an anemone may try to take up residence in another coral which may irritate it to the extent it retracts and eventually dies.
Other species of clownfish, like the Maroon and Tomato, can be even more aggressive and should be avoided by beginners.
All the fish listed above will do well in a small starter tank. For more information on setting one up, see our article, Best Saltwater Fish Tank Starter Kit.
Saltwater Fish For Beginners FAQs
What is the best saltwater fish for a beginner? – While clownfish are the obvious choice for most people starting in saltwater, they aren’t the only easy fish to keep for a beginner.
Other choices of easy beginner fish include Banggai Cardinal, Royal Gramma, Firefish, small blennies, and gobies like the Watchman Goby.
Is a saltwater tank good for beginners? – If you have never kept an aquarium before, a saltwater tank can seem a little daunting but there is no reason why you cannot be successful.
Do plenty of research first on what is required. Check out our article on How to Start a Saltwater Fish Tank for all the information you need.
How big should my first saltwater tank be? – It is probably best to start with a small or nano tank of between 60 – 120 litres. A good saltwater fish tank starter kit will have everything you need to begin your journey.
Are clownfish beginner friendly? – Yes and no. You just need to make sure you pick the right species of clownfish. The common Ocellaris clownfish is usually tank-bred and is easy to keep and peaceful.
Some species of clownfish, like the Tomato and Maroon, can be aggressive and should be avoided by beginners.