most beautiful fishes in the world

Mandarin Dragonet

This brightly colored member of the dragonet family is definitely one of the most beautiful, attractive and popular aquarium fishes. Despite its popularity as aquarium pet, the Mandarin Dragonet is difficult to keep. It eats only copepods and will die in captivity without an adequate supply. It could grow up to 6 cm or 2.5inches in length. It is endemic to the Pacific Ocean. It is also called in various trade names such as “Mandarinfish”, “Mandarin Goby”, “Scribble Fish”, “Striped Mandarinfish” and Psychedelic Fish”.

Reef Triggerfish

This uniquely colored and patterned fish is known with several common names like Reef Triggerfish, Rectangular Triggerfish and Wedge-tail Triggerfish. Its Hawaiian name is Humu­humu­nuku­nuku­apuaʻa or just humuhumu for short means “triggerfish with a snout like a pig”. It is endemic to the coasts of central and south Pacific islands.

One interesting behavior of this fish is its ability to blow jets of water from its mouth. These jets help the fish find benthic invertebrates that may be buried under the substrate. Triggers also have the remarkable ability to rapidly alter their coloration. They can fade into a relatively drab appearance when sleeping or demonstrating submission while the coloration is often the most vivid when the fish is healthy and unthreatened by its surroundings. It’s is not reef safe but easy to keep and grows to a maximum of 30 cm or 12 inches long.

Picturesque Dragonet 

The above-photo of a lovely-looking dragonet is taken at Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia by Murphy Lawrence. Picturesque Dragonet is also called Spotted Mandarin. It is found in Indian Ocean and in the West pacific region. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. This pretty aquarium fish grows to a size of 7cm in length.

Six-Bar Wrasse

The colorful Six-Bar Wrasse is a pretty fish that is popular in the aquarium trade. It is reef safe and keeping this species is easy to moderate. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific region and red sea. It grows to a maximum of 8 inches long.

Powder Blue Tang

The Powder Blue tang is arguably the handsomest of all aquarium fishes. It is reef safe and get along with most species. Level of keeping it is moderate although it is prone to Cryptocaryon irritans. It is also commonly called Powder Blue Surgeonfish. It is omnivorous, eating mostly benthic algae.

The tang is uncommonly harvested for anything other than the marine aquarium industry. It is a commonly sold fish that is moderately difficult to care for, although its popularity is easily exceeded by the Blue Tang and Yellow Tang.

Red Coris Wrasse 

The brightly colored Red Coris Wrasse is from the Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 40 cm or 14 inches in length. It is reef safe and keeping it as pet is easy. As a juvenile it is a bright red color with large black margined white spots. As an adult it has a pink face and fins, with the exception of the tail fin which is bright yellow. The body is green towards the anterior darkening and decorated with bright blue specs towards the posterior.

Cortez Rainbow Wrasse

The beautiful Cortez Rainbow Wrasse is also called Lollipop Wrasse. As its name implies, it is one of the most colorful fishes in the world. It is endemic to eastern Pacific Ocean. It is not reef safe but the level of care for this lovely fish is moderate. It grows to a maximum of 15 cm or 5 inches long.

Freckled Hawkfish

The adorable Freckled Hawkfish from the Indo-Pacific region that occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade is surely a beauty to adore though it should not be kept in a tank with shrimps because it will eat them. It grows to a size of 22 cm or 8.8 inches in length.

Clown Tang

The Clown Tang is another pretty and colorful fish from the Indo-Pacific region that occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 38cm in length. Like all tangs it is laterally compressed. It is light colored on the underside with blue and yellow stripes on the upper half of its body. It is reef safe but the level of care is difficult.

Red-head Fairy Wrasse

This colorful fish called Redhead Fairy Wrasse that occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade is reef safe and keeping it as pet is difficult. It feeds on tiny organisms and grows to a maximum length of 13 cm or 5 inches. It is found in the Pacific Ocean.

Mandarinfish

The Mandarin Fish or Chinese Perch is a freshwater fish that lives in China. It is distantly related to the Picturesque Dragonet and should not be confused with the unrelated and more colorful saltwater Mandarinfish. The Mandarin Fish is very popular as food in China. Its name appears in many Chinese poems and books.

Picasso Triggerfish

The Picassofish, like many triggerfish is a fish with bright and unique coloration and one of the most sought species for aquarium. Other names for this beautiful and unique fish include Lagoon Triggerfish, Blackbar Triggerfish and Jamal Triggerfish. It grows to a maximum length of up to 30 cm or 12 inches in length. It is usually found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region.