Choosing the Best Saltwater Starter Fish
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Whether you are a seasoned aquarist or just starting, choosing the right fish for your saltwater aquarium can make all the difference in creating a thriving underwater paradise. Setting up a saltwater aquarium can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor, especially when it comes to selecting the right fish. With so many species to choose from, understanding the unique needs and behaviors of different saltwater fish is key to creating a thriving aquatic environment.
After growing up with a freshwater fish tank, I became a saltwater aquarist a few years ago. I quickly learned that saltwater fish are not nearly as adaptable as most of the freshwater fish you can buy at the pet store. Choosing the best fish for your saltwater aquarium starts with your tank. I started with a simple medium-sized fish-only, community tank, which I would recommend any rookie aquarist start out with too.
Smaller tanks are generally easier to manage and maintain, making them a wise choice for new saltwater aquarists learning the basics of water chemistry, filtration, and regular tank maintenance. While fish-only setups are less complex than reef or live rock tanks, making it somewhat easier to establish and maintain a stable and healthy environment for your fish.
For beginners setting up their first saltwater tank, start with a species that is hardy, non-aggressive, and easy to care for. I built my aquarium around two clownfish and a blue tang fish that I paired with a few green chromis and a few fire gobies. While all four species are relatively easy to maintain, my blue tang really stressed out my gobies. Blue tangs are generally peaceful and non-aggressive, but they are larger and more active which I learned can really stress smaller, more timid fish like firefish gobies. While gobies get along great with chromis and clownfish, if you decide to keep a blue tang with firefish gobies, make sure your tank has plenty of hiding places for the gobies to escape to. If you too want your tank to emulate a certain Disney movie, keep in mind that blue tangs are a larger, more active species that require ample swimming space. While tangs are compatible with most beginner-friendly fish, it’s best to wait until you have a larger tank to accommodate their needs and behaviors.
Clownfish are the most popular saltwater fish – and for good reason. Estimates suggest that around 70-80% of aquarists who keep clownfish have reported success with them, given they follow proper care guidelines. After clownfish, some of the most popular beginner-friendly saltwater fish include chromis, gobies, and wrasses. Chromis and clownfish are excellent tank mates and share similar water parameters making it easier to create a well-balanced environment for both species to thrive. Both firefish gobies and yellow watchman gobies do well in community tanks and share similar environmental requirements with clownfish and most beginner-friendly fish. Most wrasses, such as the six-line wrasse, can be compatible with clownfish and other fish in a community tank, but it’s important to choose the right species of wrasse. Wrasses are active swimmers with a peaceful nature and can coexist well with clownfish and other peaceful fish like gobies, blennies, and cardinalfish. Some wrasses can be territorial, especially in smaller tanks, so researching specific species will help ensure compatibility with your existing fish.
Whether you are a novice or an experienced aquarist, selecting the right fish for your saltwater aquarium requires careful consideration of each species’ needs and compatibility. By understanding the unique needs and behaviors of different fish, you can create a thriving and harmonious aquatic community.