Reef Safe Fish

How to Choose Reef Safe Fish

Reef safe, reef safe with caution, and not reef safe

Fish in this collection are generally safe with corals and most invertebrates. A second group is reef safe with caution: species such as dwarf angelfish and some butterflyfish live peacefully with many corals but may sample LPS, zoanthids, or clam mantles. Triggers, large angels, and most puffers belong in fish-only and FOWLR aquariums.

Plan around adult size and temperament

Reef compatibility is only one filter. A tang or rabbitfish may be coral safe yet need a six-foot tank as an adult, while a dottyback can bully peaceful gobies. Small tanks are best stocked from our nano fish and beginner saltwater fish collections, adding the most peaceful species first.

Protect your clean up crew

Many wrasses, hawkfish, and larger reef fish treat small shrimp and snails as food. If you rely on a saltwater clean up crew or keep ornamental shrimp, favor species with invertebrate-safe notes and add inverts before predatory tankmates.

Quarantine, acclimation, and feeding

Quarantine new fish before they join the display so a single arrival cannot introduce parasites to the whole reef. Feed a varied diet of quality marine fish food, and use our saltwater fish glossary to compare diet, size, and temperament species by species.