Species Profiles
2402 articles- Goldentail Moray (Gymnothorax miliaris) Care GuideGymnothorax miliaris, the goldentail moray, is a smaller western Atlantic moray eel with a dark, yellow-speckled body and a pale tail tip.
- Honeycomb Moray (Gymnothorax tessellata) Care GuideGymnothorax tessellata, the honeycomb moray, is a very large Indo-Pacific moray eel with a black-spotted pattern, valid today as Gymnothorax
- Sargassumfish (Histrio histrio) Care GuideHistrio histrio, the sargassumfish, is a frogfish specialised for life among floating Sargassum mats, where it is a cannibalistic ambush pre
- Tailjet Frogfish (Antennarius analis) Care GuideAntennarius analis, the tailjet frogfish, is a small cryptic Indo-Pacific ambush predator now placed by FishBase in the genus Abantennarius.
- Scarlet Frogfish (Antennarius coccineus) Care GuideAntennarius coccineus, the scarlet frogfish, is a small, secretive Indo-Pacific ambush predator now placed by FishBase in the genus Abantenn
- Longlure Frogfish (Antennarius multiocellatus) Care GuideAntennarius multiocellatus, the longlure frogfish, is the most common western Atlantic frogfish, named for its many eye spots and long lure.
- Spotfin Frogfish (Antennarius nummifer) Care GuideAntennarius nummifer, the spotfin frogfish, is a small reef-associated ambush predator now placed by FishBase in the genus Abantennarius.
- Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus) Care GuideAntennarius pictus, the painted frogfish, is a variable Indo-Pacific ambush predator that often associates with sponges.
- Warty Frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) Care GuideAntennarius maculatus, the warty frogfish, is an Indo-Pacific ambush predator with wart-covered skin and a fish-mimicking lure.
- Striated Frogfish (Antennarius striatus) Care GuideAntennarius striatus is a small, highly variable marine frogfish with a worm-like lure and an ambush hunting strategy.
- Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) Care GuideAntennarius commerson is the largest tropical frogfish, reaching about 45 cm. A camouflaged ambush predator that lures prey with a modified
- Lacy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) Care GuideRhinopias aphanes is a Coral Sea scorpionfish reaching about 25 cm, with lacy patterning. A camouflaged benthic ambush predator that walks o
- Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) Care GuideRhinopias frondosa is an ornate scorpionfish reaching about 23 cm, covered in weed-like tassels. A camouflaged nocturnal ambush predator.
- Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) Care GuideSynanceia verrucosa is the reef stonefish, regarded as the most venomous fish in the world, reaching about 40 cm. A camouflaged ambush preda
- Twospot Lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) Care GuideDendrochirus biocellatus is the smallest dwarf lionfish, reaching about 13 cm. It has two ocelli on the dorsal fin and is cryptic and noctur
- Zebra Lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra) Care GuideDendrochirus zebra is a dwarf lionfish reaching about 25 cm across the Indo-West Pacific. Venomous, nocturnal and known to hunt cooperativel
- Mombasa Lionfish (Pterois mombasae) Care GuidePterois mombasae is an Indo-West Pacific lionfish reaching about 20 cm, found on deeper soft-bottom and rocky reefs. Venomous and carnivorou
- Spotfin Lionfish (Pterois antennata) Care GuidePterois antennata is an Indo-Pacific lionfish reaching about 20 cm. It is nocturnal, venomous, and feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.
- Radial Lionfish (Pterois radiata) Care GuidePterois radiata is an Indo-Pacific lionfish reaching about 24 cm. It is nocturnal, venomous, and feeds almost exclusively on crabs and shrim
- Spot-fin Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix) Care GuideDiodon hystrix is a circumtropical porcupinefish reaching about 91 cm. It feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates and contains tetrodotoxin.
- Starry Puffer (Arothron stellatus) Care GuideArothron stellatus is the largest puffer, reaching up to 120 cm; this Indo-Pacific species is not reef-safe and is poisonous to eat.
- Map Puffer (Arothron mappa) Care GuideArothron mappa is a large Indo-Pacific puffer with a maze-like pattern reaching about 65 cm; it is not reef-safe.
- White-spotted Puffer (Arothron hispidus) Care GuideArothron hispidus is a large, territorial Indo-Pacific puffer reaching about 50 cm; it is not reef-safe and is poisonous to eat.
- Dog-faced Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) Care GuideArothron nigropunctatus, the dog-faced puffer, is a colour-variable Indo-Pacific puffer reaching about 33 cm; it is not reef-safe.
- Guineafowl Puffer (Arothron meleagris) Care GuideArothron meleagris is a large corallivorous puffer covered in white spots; it reaches about 50 cm and is not reef-safe.
- Lantern Toby (Canthigaster epilampra) Care GuideCanthigaster epilampra is an Indo-Pacific sharpnose puffer of outer reef slopes; it is not reef-safe and reaches about 12 cm.
- Papuan Toby (Canthigaster papua) Care GuideCanthigaster papua is a small Indo-West Pacific sharpnose puffer of coral-rich reefs; it is not reef-safe and reaches about 10 cm.
- Crown Toby (Canthigaster coronata) Care GuideCanthigaster coronata is a small sharpnose puffer with three dark saddles; it feeds on benthic invertebrates and is not reef-safe.
- Spotted Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster solandri) Care GuideCanthigaster solandri is a small Pacific sharpnose puffer covered in blue spots; it eats invertebrates and is not reef-safe.
- Humpback Turretfish (Tetrosomus gibbosus) Care GuideTetrosomus gibbosus is a triangular-bodied Indo-West Pacific boxfish that releases toxins when stressed and reaches about 30 cm.
- Thornback Cowfish Care GuideLactoria fornasini is an Indo-Pacific cowfish reaching 23 cm, an invertebrate feeder that releases a soap-like toxin (pahutoxin) under stres
- Spotted Boxfish Care GuideOstracion meleagris is an Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific boxfish reaching 25 cm, an omnivore that can release a toxic slime under stress.
- Black Durgon Care GuideMelichthys niger is a circumtropical triggerfish reaching 50 cm, an algae and zooplankton feeder often forming loose aggregations.
- Yellow-spotted Triggerfish Care GuidePseudobalistes fuscus is a large Indo-Pacific triggerfish reaching 55 cm, an invertebrate feeder that becomes very aggressive when nesting.
- Stone Triggerfish Care GuidePseudobalistes naufragium is the largest triggerfish, reaching 100 cm in the Eastern Pacific, an invertebrate feeder needing enormous system
- Yellow-margin Triggerfish Care GuidePseudobalistes flavimarginatus is a large Indo-Pacific triggerfish reaching 60 cm, an invertebrate and coral feeder needing very large syste
- Gray Triggerfish Care GuideBalistes capriscus is a temperate-to-tropical Atlantic triggerfish reaching 66 cm, an invertebrate feeder listed by FishBase as Vulnerable.
- Queen Triggerfish Care GuideBalistes vetula is a large Atlantic triggerfish reaching 60 cm, an invertebrate predator requiring very large fish-only marine systems.
- Undulated Triggerfish Care GuideBalistapus undulatus is a highly territorial Indo-Pacific triggerfish reaching 30 cm, feeding on benthic invertebrates and best kept singly.
- Halfmoon Triggerfish Care GuideSufflamen chrysopterum is an Indo-Pacific reef triggerfish reaching 30 cm, an invertebrate feeder kept in large fish-only marine systems.
- Boomerang Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) Care GuideSufflamen bursa is an Indo-Pacific triggerfish of clear reefs, marked by curved bands behind the eye and feeding on benthic invertebrates.
- Crosshatch Triggerfish (Xanthichthys mento) Care GuideXanthichthys mento is a Pacific triggerfish of oceanic islands and reef drop-offs, feeding on zooplankton and considered relatively peaceful
- Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger) Care GuideOdonus niger is a deep blue Indo-Pacific triggerfish with red teeth that forms feeding schools in current-swept reefs.
- Black-Belly Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus verrucosus) Care GuideRhinecanthus verrucosus is an Indo-West Pacific triggerfish of reef flats and lagoons, recognised by a large black belly patch.
- Wedge Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) Care GuideRhinecanthus rectangulus is an Indo-Pacific triggerfish of shallow surge reefs and one of Hawaii's state fish, with a broad dark wedge marki
- Arabian Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assasi) Care GuideRhinecanthus assasi is a Red Sea and Persian Gulf triggerfish that inhabits shallow reefs and feeds on benthic invertebrates.
- Redspotted Hawkfish (Amblycirrhitus pinos) Care GuideAmblycirrhitus pinos is a small western Atlantic hawkfish of rocky reefs that feeds on small crustaceans and shelters in crevices.
- Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) Care GuideParacirrhites forsteri is a variably coloured Indo-Pacific hawkfish that perches on branching coral and ambushes small fishes and crustacean
- Falco's Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco) Care GuideCirrhitichthys falco, the dwarf or Falco's hawkfish, is a small Indo-Pacific reef fish that perches on coral and ambushes small prey.
- Threadfin Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys aprinus) Care GuideCirrhitichthys aprinus is a small Indo-West Pacific hawkfish that perches on reef structure and preys on small fishes and crustaceans.