Search Species
Search for fish species by common or scientific name, or use filters to browse by water type, size, temperament, and difficulty.
Found 61 species
Serrated flathead
Rogadius serratus
Rogadius serratus is a sneaky little flathead that basically lives glued to the bottom, blending into sand and rubble like a living leaf-litter camouflage job. It is the kind of fish that does almost nothing until food shows up, then it strikes fast. Super cool look up close, but it is absolutely not a community tank fish.
Sharpnose wrasse
Wetmorella nigropinnata
This is one of those tiny, sneaky reef wrasses that lives in the rockwork - you'll see it poking its little sharp snout into cracks hunting micro-prey. Super peaceful and shy, but once it settles in, its yellow bars and twitchy 'possum wrasse' vibes are seriously addictive to watch.
Sixline Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
The Sixline Wrasse is that nonstop little reef torpedo that weaves through rockwork all day hunting tiny critters. It's awesome for picking at pests like small worms/flatworms, but once it settles in it can get pretty territorial-especially in smaller tanks or with similar-shaped fish.
Spotted Mandarin Dragonet (Picturesque/Psychedelic Mandarin)
Synchiropus picturatus
This little dragonet is basically a living piece of reef art-chunky fins, goofy "hovering" swimming, and those crazy psychedelic spots that look painted on. The big thing with them is they're constant pickers, cruising rockwork all day hunting tiny critters, so they're happiest in a mature tank with tons of pods (or a keeper who's ready to meet them halfway on food). If you like chill fish with tons of personality that don't bother anyone, mandarin time is hard to beat.
Striped goby
Gobius vittatus
A small Mediterranean goby that patrols pink coralline-algae bottoms and picks at tiny crustaceans and worms. It tops out around 2.3 inches and spends most of its time close to the substrate. Researchers have aged females to about 4 years, and there is even work suggesting it mimics a little blenny's look.
Tanaka's possum wrasse
Wetmorella tanakai
A tiny, secretive reef wrasse that slips through rockwork and picks at micro-crustaceans, Tanaka's possum wrasse brightens a tank with sharp white bars and bold false eyespots. It stays small and is very gentle, but it does best in a calm, mature reef with lots of caves and food-rich nooks.
Variegated cardinalfish
Fowleria variegata
A small Indo‑West Pacific cardinalfish with a mottled, peppered red‑brown body and a rounded caudal fin. It shelters by day in seagrass beds, shallow lagoons and reef rubble, emerging at night to feed on zooplankton and small crustaceans. Males produce grunt and “hoot” calls associated with interactions and courtship. Rare in the aquarium trade; provide ample shaded cover.
Ward's Sleeper Goby
Valenciennea wardii
A sand-sifting goby with crisp brown bars and a neat eyespot on the first dorsal, it spends its day scooping mouthfuls of sand and spitting out clean grains. Often seen in pairs and living in burrows, it is fun to watch as it engineers the substrate and keeps it tidy.
Weed cardinalfish
Foa brachygramma
A tiny Hawaiian cardinalfish that disappears among seagrass and algae with its mottled, weedy camouflage. Males mouthbrood the eggs, so if you ever spot a pair, you might see dad carrying a clutch under his chin.
Whitebanded sharpnose wrasse
Wetmorella albofasciata
This is one of those tiny, cryptic wrasses that spends a lot of time weaving through rockwork and poking into little cracks like it is on a constant scavenger hunt. The big eyes and sharp snout give it a weird-cute "mini predator" look, and it really shines in a peaceful reef where it feels safe enough to come out and cruise.
Whitebarred pink wrasse
Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
This is the fish most of us know as the Mystery Wrasse - a shy little reef wrasse with a bright yellow face, faint-to-bold white bars, and that signature eyespot back by the tail. It spends a lot of time weaving through rockwork and popping out to hunt tiny critters, and it can get surprisingly bossy once it feels settled in. Give it caves, a tight lid, and a steady meaty diet and it turns into a really fun, personable showpiece.
Yelloweye filefish
Pervagor alternans
A Western Pacific filefish with a bright yellow ring around the eye and an orange tail, it tops out around 6 inches and spends its time cruising coral and rocky reefs. It will pick at inverts and corals, so it is better in fish-only setups. When stressed it can even make a low grinding sound by rubbing its teeth together.