Brightly Colored and Unique Aquarium Fish

Looking for more colorful fish for your aquarium? It seems that it has become a necessity for fish-lovers to

look for the prettiest and most colorful fishes for their tanks. Here are more colorful fish for your aquarium.

Australian Blenny (Ecsenius australianus)

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This peculiar-looking fish is scientifically called Ecsenius australianus, a blenny from the Indo-West Pacific. It

also occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 9 centimeters in length.

Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse (Coris julis)

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The Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse of Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean is one of the most beautifully

colored fishes. It can grow to 25 cm in length. There is a marked difference in appearance between males and

females, the former being green, blue or brown with white belly, a dark blue spot over the ventral fin and a bright

orange band on the side, while the latter have are brown with yellowish sides and white belly. It is associated with

rocky deeps.

Dwarf Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco)

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The unique Dwarf Hawkfish can be found across the Indo West Pacific oceans. It is also known as the Spotted

Hawkfish. It can reach a maximum length of 7 centimeters. It is red-pink and white in color and it has tassels on

the tip of their dorsal fins that make them distinct from other fish. It inhabits tropical reefs and feeds on very small

fish and benthic invertebrates.

Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus)

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The pretty Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish or Forcepsfish is known in the Hawaiian language as

lauwiliwilinukunukuoioi, or “long-snouted (sharp-beaked) fish shaped like a wiliwili leaf”. It can reach a length

of 22 cm or 8.7 inches.

Regal Tang (Paracanthus hepatus)

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One of the most popular and prettiest fishes that are readily found in most aquarium stores is the Regal Tang.

As juveniles, they require an aquarium of at least 40 gallons, but as adults, will require at least a 70 gallon tank.

They will eat many frozen fish foods such as mysids and krill. Adults will also nibble on algae and nori. As with

most tangs, having more than one in a small aquarium can cause stress, which can lead to injury from fighting.

Regal Tang is also known with a variety of common names like Palette Surgeonfish, Royal Blue Tang, Hippo

Tang, Flagtail Surgeonfish and Blue Surgeonfish.

Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)

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The Copperband Butterflyfish of the pacific and Indian Oceans is also commonly called the Beak Coralfish. It is

characterized by a long beak just like the Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish. This fish is easily identified by the orange

banding and long snout and can grow up to 20 cm in length.

Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)

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The beautiful and popular Royal Gramma is reef safe and the level of care is easy to moderate. It can grow up to

5 cm or 2 inches long. Due to their relatively peaceful nature, diet and small size, the royal gramma is considered

an ideal inhabitant for most reef aquariums containing coral and other invertebrates. It is resistant to most

diseases and makes very good beginner fish.

Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)

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The elegant beautiful Yellow Tang from Indo-Pacific region is one of the most popular aquarium fish. It is very

commonly kept as a saltwater aquarium fish that can grow up to 8” and should be contained in at least 80 gallons

tank. In the wild, yellow tang will provide cleaner services to marine turtles, by removing algal growth from their

shells.

Fire Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica)

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The Fire Goby is most commonly found in tropical marine waters. Fire Goby swims as deep below the surface

as 70 meters and usually hover directly above the ocean floor, facing the current to catch its prey. It usually has

a bright yellow head, merging into a white body, gradually shading into a red-orange tail. It reaches a maximum

length of 9 centimeters or 3 inches. As pet, it should be kept alone or in pairs to reduce fighting. This fish may

need live food when first introduced, but can be adapted to frozen foods. Other names include Fire Fish, Fire

Dartfish or Red Fire Goby.

Pyramid Butteryflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis)

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The Pyramid Butterflyfish bears a white pyramid-shaped patch on each side and gives rise to its common name.

It can grow up to 18 centimeters in length. This species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Eastern Indian

Ocean and Western and Central Pacific, from South-east Asia, Christmas Island and Coco-Keeling Atoll, north

to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn Islands. As it grows its head changes color

form yellow to brown.

Pennant Coral Fish (Heniochus acuminatus)

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The Pennant Coralfish or Coachman from Indian and pacific Oceans is also known colloquially as the “poor man’s

Moorish idol” because it is commonly sold as an alternative to the Moorish idol, which are considered to be nearly

impossible for most hobbyists to keep. It is fairly easy to care for when maintained in a properly-sized aquarium

with peaceful tankmates.

Turkey Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris)

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The Turkey Moray can be found in the Indo-Pacific oceans at depths down to 36 meters. This unique marine

creature needs a large tank because it grows up to 1.2 meters in length.

Zebra Moray (Gymnomuraena zebra)

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The Zebra Moray can be found in many parts of the globe. This exotic pet for your aquarium can grow up to 1.5

meters in length. So, it means it should be put in a large tank. Coloration includes narrow dark bands which are

close together, giving rise to its common name.

Laced Moray (Gymnothorax favagineus)

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More and more exotic pets are making its way to the pet trade. One of them is the Laced Moray which is also

known as the Tesselate Moray or Honeycomb Moray, a species of moral eel.

Convict Blenny (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)

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This unique-looking creature is a blenny scientifically named Pholidichthys leucotaenia is from the Western

Central Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 34cm in length.

Longhorn Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta)

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The brightly colored Longhorn Cowfish from Indo-Pacific region should be handled with caution and

recommended for expert aquarist only. It is recognizable by its long horns that protrude from the front of its head

that resembles a cow or bull. It grows about 10 cm or 4 inches long. Whilst badly suited to the home aquarium,

the cowfish is becoming increasingly popular as a pet.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

See also

Top 12 Most Colorful and Unique Aquarium Fishes

Pretty Aquatic Pets: 10 Most Beautiful Shrimps

Exotic Beauties: Extremely Beautiful Aquatic Pets

For more aquatic pets see

Bizarre and Exotic Pets: Weird and Unique Turtles

Absolutely Freaky and Weird Frogs: Will You Have Them As Pets?