The results are in! Here are numbers 5-1 based on recent sales' statistics for one of the leading online retailers of marine livestock.
Number 5 - Flame Angel (Centropyge loricula)
Vital Stats:
- Grows to 6 inches
- Needs a 30-gallon+ aquarium
- Comes from Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Tahiti, and Hawaii
Want some bling for your tank? This flashy little guy comes in as the number five favorite for marine aquarists. As Mark Martin, the Director of Marine Ornamentals at Blue Zoo Aquatics says: “The Flame Angelfish is one of the most popular of all the Centropyge Angelfish with good reason. It is hardy enough for beginners and attractive enough for the seasoned aquarist.” If underfed, the flame angel may nip at corals, and it will aggressively go after members of its own species. The Flame Angel will cost you between $40 and $75 depending on size.
Number 4 - Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
Vital Stats:
- Grows to 3 inches
- Needs a 30-gallon+ aquarium
- Comes from Coral Sea, Indo-Pacific, Tahiti
This small shoaling fish is a favorite with marine hobbyists, as its number four ranking attests. In addition to its cool coloration, Martin says that “the Green Chromis acts as a 'dithering' fish and will draw out shy and retiring fish that would otherwise be reclusive and stay hidden in the rockwork or behind decorations.” Keep a shoal of Green Chromis in a fish only or reef tank, but be sure the shoal has an uneven number of fish. Prices for the Green Chromis range from $2 to $4 each depending on how many you buy.
Number 3 – Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flaviscens)
Vital Stats:
- Grows to 8 inches
- Needs a 75-gallon+ aquarium
- Comes from Hawaii
This ubiquitous marine aquarium fish comes in (not surprisingly) at number three. A hardy marine fish that will earn its keep by keeping algae in check, the Yellow Tang is a favorite in the hobby. It’s best to keep one per tank, unless the tank is very large. Your Yellow Tang will cost you somewhere between $25 and $80 depending on size.
Number 2 - Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Vital Stats:
- Grows to 12 inches
- Needs a 75-gallon+ aquarium
- Comes from Fiji, Indo-Pacific, Solomon Islands, and Hawaii
While it should surprise no one that Nemo’s buddy shows up at number two on the top ten list, the Blue Tang is NOT a beginners’ fish. While very colorful and personable, the Blue Tang gets big and will fight with others of the same species. This beauty will set you back $25 to $115 depending upon size.
Number 1 - Ocellaris Clown
Vital Stats:
- Grows to 4 ½ inches
- Needs a 30-gallon+ aquarium
- Comes from the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean
As Martin rightfully points out, “The Ocellaris Clownfish has to be the single most recognized marine fish in the industry.” This clownfish is relatively hardy and highly personable. Many aquarists can’t resist the symbiotic relationship it shares with a host anemone, which is why, perhaps, this is currently the number one most popular marine fish based on Blue Zoo Aquatics' sales statistics. You too can have your very own Ocellaris Clown for between $10 and $25 depending on size.
Thanks to Blue Zoo Aquatics for sharing their sales’ stats for this article, and, especially, thanks to Mark Martin for his willingness to share his knowledge about these species. If you want to learn more about any of these species, try visiting FishBase.
To read part one (fishes 10-6) of this two part article, click here.
