Fish Suitability
DISCLAIMER: Use this information as a guideline only. The information contained in this chart is opinion based upon personal experience. Individual fish, as well as individual aquaria may, and often do present scenarios that vary from “the norm.”
Rating Guide
| A | Recommended for Advanced aquarists only |
| B | Usually OK for Beginners |
| C | Usually OK, with Caution! |
| Group/Type | Species | General Temperament | Important Notes | Reef Compatible? | Rating |
| ANGEL, PYGMY | Fireball | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | Yes | B |
| ANGEL, PYGMY | African Flameback | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | Yes | B |
| ANGEL, PYGMY | Pygmy (Caribbean) | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | YES | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Half Black | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Bicolor | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B/C |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Coral Beauty | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Ebelli | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Flame Angel | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Keyhole | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Lemon peel | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Lamark | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Midnight | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Potters | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Rusty | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Singapore | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | A |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Swallowtail | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, DWARF | Zebra | Community | may be territorial towards similar angels | usually | B |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Annularis | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Asfur | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Blue (Caribbean) | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Blueface | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Cortez | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | French | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Grey (Caribbean) | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Imperator (Emperor)-adult | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Imperator (Emperor)-juv | Community | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Koran -adult | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | B/C |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Koran -juv. | Community | Needs LARGE tank | NO | B/C |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Maculosis | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Majestic | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Passer | Aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | B |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Personifer | Community | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Gray Poma | Community | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Queen | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Regal, Red Sea | Community | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Scribbled | Community | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGELS, LARGE | Six Bar | moderate/aggressive | Needs LARGE tank | NO | A |
| ANGLERFISH | All | Aggressive | May eat fish larger than self! | NO! | B |
| ANTHIAS | All | Community | needs 2 -3 feedings per day | MAYBE | A |
| BASSLET | Bicolor | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Black Cap | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Chalk | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Fridmani | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Royal Gramma | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Purple Pseudo | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Skunk Pseudo | Community | YES | B | |
| BASSLET | Tobacco Basslet | Community | YES | B | |
| BATFISH | Orbicularis (Orby) | Community | GROWS VERY LARGE! | NO | B |
| BATFISH | Tierra | Community | GROWS VERY LARGE! | NO | B |
| BLENNY | Bicolor | Community | YES | B | |
| BLENNY | Canary | Community | YES | B | |
| BLENNY | Lawnmower | Community | YES | B | |
| BLENNY | Scooter | Community | YES | B/C | |
| BLENNY | Striped | Community | YES | B | |
| BUTTERFLY | Auriga | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Copperband | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | CoricolaDot-Dash | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Falcula | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Four-eye | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Four Spot | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Heniochus, Brown | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| BUTTERFLY | Heniochus, Black & White | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| BUTTERFLY | Lemon | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Longnose | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Pearlscale | Community | NO | A | |
| BUTTERFLY | Racoon | Community | NO | A | |
| CARDINAL | P.J. | Community | YES | B | |
| CARDINAL | HI FIN | Community | YES | B | |
| CLOWNFISH | Cinnamon | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | Clarkii | Community | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | Gold maroon | Community | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | Percula | Community | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | Sebae | Community | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | Tomato | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | Skunk | Community | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| CLOWNFISH | True Percula | Community | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Blue | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Domino | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Fiji | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Green chromis | Community | good in schools | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Jewel | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Orange Tail | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Neon Velvet | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Yellow | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Striped | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| DAMSEL | Yellow Tail blue | moderate/aggressive | may be territorial towards others | YES | B |
| EEL | Banded | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| EEL | Black Edge | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| EEL | Snowflake | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| EEL | Wolf | moderate/aggressive | Not a true eel-more like a blenny | NO | B |
| EEL | Yellow Head | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| EEL | Tessalata | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| EEL | Zebra | moderate | among the least aggressive | NO | B |
| FLOUNDERS | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| FOXFACE | All | Community | MAYBE | B | |
| GOATFISH | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| GOBY | Antenna | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Clown | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Diamond Sleeper | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Dragon | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Engineer | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Firefish, Orange | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Firefish, Purple | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Golden Sleeper | Community | YES | C | |
| GOBY | Pearly Jawfish | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Mandarin | Community | Requires lots of live rock | YES | C |
| GOBY | Neon | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Bar | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Randalli | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | rainfordi | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Scissor | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Signal | Community | YES | C | |
| GOBY | Tiger Sleeper | Community | YES | B | |
| GOBY | Watchman | Community | YES | B | |
| GROUPER | Marine Betta | Community | Shy & Peaceful -may eat shrimps | YES | B |
| GROUPER | Black Tip | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Blue Line | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Blue Spot | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Clown | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Flame | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Louti | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Mineatus | Aggressive | GROWS VERY LARGE! | NO | B |
| GROUPER | Panther | moderate/aggressive | GROWS VERY LARGE! | NO | B |
| GROUPER | Saddle | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Striped | Aggressive | GROWS VERY LARGE! | NO | B |
| GROUPER | V-Tail | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| GROUPER | Yellow | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| HAWKFISH | Arc Eye | moderate/aggressive | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HAWKFISH | Banded | Community | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HAWKFISH | Flame | Community | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HAWKFISH | Longnose | Community | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HAWKFISH | Pixi | Community | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HAWKFISH | Red | moderate/aggressive | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HAWKFISH | Spotted | Community | May eat small shrimps | YES | B |
| HOGFISH | Coral | Community | May eat small shrimps | NO | B |
| HOGFISH | Cuban | moderate/aggressive | May eat small shrimps | NO | B |
| HOGFISH | Diana | Community | May eat small shrimps | NO | B |
| HOGFISH | Lyretail | Community | May eat small shrimps | NO | C |
| HOGFISH | Spanish | moderate/aggressive | May eat small shrimps | NO | B |
| LIONFISH | Antenatta | Community | May eat anything smaller than head! | NO | B |
| LIONFISH | Volitan | Community | May eat anything smaller than head! | NO | B |
| LIONFISH | Dwarf | Community | May eat anything smaller than head! | NO | B/C |
| LIONFISH | Fumanchu | Community | May eat anything smaller than head! | NO | B/C |
| LIONFISH | Radiata | Community | May eat anything smaller than head! | NO | B |
| PARROT | Bicolor | Community | Require LARGE tanks-chew rocks! | NO | A |
| PARROT | Green | Community | Require LARGE tanks-chew rocks! | NO | A |
| PARROT | Princess | Community | Require LARGE tanks-chew rocks! | NO | A |
| PORKFISH | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| PUFFER | Dogface | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| PUFFER | Porcupine | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| PUFFER | Valentini | Community | NO | B | |
| PUFFER | Spotted | Community | NO | B | |
| SEAHORSES | All | Community | Most difficult of fish -needs live food | NO! | A |
| SHARKS | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| SNAPPERS | All | Aggressive | GROWS VERY LARGE! | NO! | B |
| SQUIRRELFISH | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| STINGRAYS | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TANG | Achilles | moderate/aggressive | YES | B | |
| TANG | Blue (regal) | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Chevron | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Clown | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Convict | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Goldrim | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Lopezi | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Naso | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Orange Shoulder | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Powder Blue | Community | YES | B/C | |
| TANG | Powder Brown | moderate/aggressive | YES | B/C | |
| TANG | Purple | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Sailfin | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Scopas | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Sohal | moderate/aggressive | YES | B | |
| TANG | Unicorn | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Yellow | Community | YES | B | |
| TANG | Yellow Eye | Community | YES | B | |
| TRIGGER | Blue Throat | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Blueline | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Bursa | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Clown | Very Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Hawaiian Black | Very Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Humu | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Niger | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Pinktail | Very Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Queen | Very Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Rectangle | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Undulated | Very very Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Sargassum | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRIGGER | Sufflamen | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| TRUMPETFISH | All | Aggressive | NO! | B | |
| WRASSE | Cleaner | Community | specialized -parasite feeder | NO | C |
| WRASSE | Coris, Red | Community | MAYBE | C | |
| WRASSE | Coris, Yellow | Community | MAYBE | B | |
| WRASSE | Dragon | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Filament | Community | YES | C | |
| WRASSE | Formosa | Community | MAYBE | C | |
| WRASSE | Green Bird | Community | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Hardwicki | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Jansen | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Klunzinger | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Leopard | Community | YES | A | |
| WRASSE | Lunare | Aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Paddlefin | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Pearl | Community | YES | C | |
| WRASSE | Pinkface | Community | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Radiant | Community | YES | B | |
| WRASSE | Rock | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Saddle | Community | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Six Line | Community | YES | B | |
| WRASSE | Sunset | moderate/aggressive | NO | B | |
| WRASSE | Twin Spot | Community | MAYBE | B | |
| WRASSE | Velvet | Community | YES | A | |
| WRASSE | Xmas | Community | MAYBE | B |
