Marine Fish in Brisbane
Gallery Aquatica is a marine fish shop in Tingalpa, about fifteen minutes east of the Brisbane CBD on Wynnum Road. We are open seven days, and the saltwater fish range covers tangs, angelfish, clownfish, wrasses, blennies, anthias, chromis, gobies, rabbitfish, eels, triggerfish and lionfish.
Marine fish are in-store purchase and pickup only. We do not send live fish by courier or freight, and we do not take orders for them online. If you want a particular fish, come in and see what is swimming, or call first and ask.
Stock changes week to week
The species listed on this page are what we carry, not a live inventory. Marine livestock arrives in batches and sells through unevenly, so any given fish may or may not be in the shop on the day you visit. A name appearing below means it is part of our usual range, not that it is in stock right now.
The reliable way to check is to ring 0420 484 584 or email shop@galleryaquatica.com.au before you make the trip, especially for the less common species.
Visit the shop
| Address | 59/1631 Wynnum Road, Tingalpa QLD 4173 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0420 484 584 |
| shop@galleryaquatica.com.au | |
| Monday to Friday | 9:00am to 5:00pm |
| Saturday and Sunday | 9:00am to 4:00pm |
Browse by family
Each family has its own page with a full profile of every species, care requirements and tankmate guidance. The tables further down this page cover all 63 fish at a glance.
- Tangs and surgeonfish — 9 species
- Marine angelfish — 11 species
- Clownfish — 6 species
- Anthias — 4 species
- Wrasses — 3 species
- Blennies — 5 species
- Chromis — 3 species
- Gobies — 5 species
- Foxface and rabbitfish — 4 species
- Moray eels — 4 species
- Triggerfish and tuskfish — 5 species
- Lionfish — 2 species
- Cardinalfish and other species — 2 species
How to read the tables below
Each family has its own table. Adult size is the length the fish reaches when fully grown, which is usually a good deal larger than the specimen you buy. Minimum tank is a guide to the smallest volume the fish should end up in, based on published references rather than the tank it happens to be sitting in at the shop. Reef safe means whether it can generally be trusted with coral and invertebrates.
Buy for the adult size, not the size in the bag. Most marine fish sold small are sold before they become a problem, and tangs and large angelfish are the usual regrets.
Tangs and surgeonfish
Tangs are grazers, and they want swimming length more than they want volume. Nearly all of them are territorial toward other tangs of a similar shape, so add them together or add the mildest first. Give them algae as well as prepared food.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Tang | Zebrasoma flavescens | 20 cm | 750 L | Yes | The usual first tang. Aggressive toward other yellow-bodied tangs. |
| Purple Tang | Zebrasoma xanthurum | 25 cm | 800 L | Yes | Bolder than a yellow tang and quick to bully similar shapes. |
| Scopas Tang also spelled Scopaz |
Zebrasoma scopas | 30 cm | 800 L | Yes | Same genus and temperament as the yellow tang, browner and larger. |
| Sailfin Tang | Zebrasoma veliferum | 40 cm | 1100 L | Yes | Gets very large and very tall. Needs real length to turn. |
| Kole Tang yellow-eye bristletooth |
Ctenochaetus strigosus | 18 cm | 380 L | Yes | The best algae grazer of the group and the mildest tempered. |
| Achilles Tang | Acanthurus achilles | 24 cm | 1100 L | Yes | The most demanding tang here. Wants high oxygen, strong flow and stable water. Not a beginner fish. |
Angelfish
Two very different groups share the name. The dwarf angels (Centropyge) top out around 10-19 cm and suit ordinary reef tanks, though any of them may sample coral. The large angels (Pomacanthus, Holacanthus) reach 40 cm or more and will eat corals and clams, so they belong in a fish-only system.
The exception worth knowing about is the Watanabe angel. Genicanthus angels feed on plankton rather than grazing on sessile life, which makes them the one reliably reef-safe large angelfish.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flame Angel | Centropyge loriculus | 10 cm | 200 L | With caution | The most popular dwarf angel. May nip zoanthids and clam mantles. |
| Coral Beauty | Centropyge bispinosa | 10 cm | 200 L | With caution | Hardiest of the dwarfs and usually the cheapest. |
| Bicolour Angel | Centropyge bicolor | 15 cm | 300 L | With caution | Striking, but has a reputation for being touchy on import. |
| Herald's Angel | Centropyge heraldi | 10 cm | 200 L | With caution | Plain yellow, easily mistaken for a small yellow tang. |
| Keyhole Angel | Centropyge tibicen | 19 cm | 400 L | With caution | Largest of the dwarf angels here. |
| African Flameback | Centropyge acanthops | 8 cm | 150 L | With caution | The smallest angel we carry. |
| Watanabe Angel | Genicanthus watanabei | 15 cm | 400 L | Yes | Plankton feeder, so it leaves coral alone. Males and females look completely different. |
| Scribble Angel | Chaetodontoplus duboulayi | 25 cm | 700 L | No | An Australian species, found along the northern coast. |
| Emperor Angel | Pomacanthus imperator | 40 cm | 1900 L | No | Juvenile and adult patterns are entirely different fish to look at. |
| Koran Angel | Pomacanthus semicirculatus | 40 cm | 1900 L | No | As above: buy for the adult, which is very large. |
| Queen Angel | Holacanthus ciliaris | 45 cm | 2300 L | No | The largest fish on this page. Fish-only systems only. |
Clownfish
Clownfish are the most forgiving marine fish we sell and the usual starting point. They do not need an anemone. Keep them singly or as a pair, because two unpaired adults will fight.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocellaris Clownfish also spelled Occelaris; the "Nemo" clownfish |
Amphiprion ocellaris | 8 cm | 100 L | Yes | The hardiest and most widely kept marine fish there is. |
| Percula Clownfish | Amphiprion percula | 8 cm | 100 L | Yes | Very similar to ocellaris, with thicker black edging to the bars. |
| Akindynos Clownfish Barrier Reef clownfish |
Amphiprion akindynos | 12 cm | 150 L | Yes | The clownfish native to the Great Barrier Reef. |
| Tomato Clownfish | Amphiprion frenatus | 14 cm | 200 L | Yes | Females get large and territorial with age. |
| Maroon Clownfish listed as Premna; Premnas biaculeatus |
Premnas biaculeatus | 17 cm | 250 L | Yes | The largest and by some way the most aggressive clownfish. |
Anthias
Anthias are plankton feeders with fast metabolisms. They need feeding two or three times a day, not once, and that is the single most common reason they fail in home tanks. They live in harems on the reef, so one male with several females works better than a pair.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyretail Anthias listed as Squammipinnis; sold as both names |
Pseudanthias squamipinnis | 13 cm | 300 L | Yes | The most commonly kept anthias and the best one to start with. |
| Dispar Anthias | Pseudanthias dispar | 9 cm | 220 L | Yes | Smallest of the four. Needs the most frequent feeding. |
| Cooper's Anthias | Pseudanthias cooperi | 12 cm | 300 L | Yes | Deeper-water species, appreciates subdued lighting. |
| Square Blotch Anthias squarespot anthias |
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia | 20 cm | 400 L | Yes | Largest anthias here. Males carry the pink square on the flank. |
Wrasses
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melanurus Wrasse tail-spot wrasse |
Halichoeres melanurus | 13 cm | 300 L | Yes | Earns its keep eating pest flatworms and small snails. Needs sand to sleep in and a tight lid. |
| Coris Wrasse yellowtail / clown coris |
Coris gaimard | 40 cm | 800 L | With caution | Juvenile colouring is nothing like the adult. Will move rock and dig up a sandbed. |
| Cleaner Wrasse bluestreak cleaner wrasse |
Labroides dimidiatus | 11 cm | 380 L | Yes | Worth being straight about: this species feeds on parasites picked from other fish and often refuses prepared food, so survival in home aquariums is poor. Most keepers are better off passing on it. |
Blennies
Blennies are small, perch on rockwork rather than swim, and have plenty of character for the space they take. The fang blennies, including the canary blenny, carry venomous grooved teeth used defensively; they are harmless in normal handling but worth knowing about.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawnmower Blenny jewelled rockskipper |
Salarias fasciatus | 13 cm | 300 L | Yes | Grazes film algae off glass and rock. Needs an established tank with algae to actually eat. |
| Bicolour Blenny | Ecsenius bicolor | 10 cm | 110 L | Yes | Half brown, half orange. Territorial with other blennies. |
| Midas Blenny | Ecsenius midas | 13 cm | 200 L | Yes | Unusual among blennies in that it swims in open water and feeds on plankton. |
| Canary Blenny yellow fang blenny |
Meiacanthus ovalauensis | 10 cm | 110 L | Yes | Plain yellow. A fang blenny, so generally left alone by larger fish. |
Chromis and damsels
Chromis shoal, and they only look right in groups. Buy odd numbers and expect the group to reduce itself as they sort out a pecking order.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Green Chromis | Chromis viridis | 8 cm | 110 L | Yes | Cheap, hardy and a common first marine fish. Keep five or more. |
| Vanderbilt's Chromis listed as Van Der Bilts |
Chromis vanderbilti | 6 cm | 110 L | Yes | Smallest chromis here, and a tighter shoaler than the blue green. |
Gobies
Gobies sit on or in the sand and stay small, which makes them some of the few marine fish genuinely suited to smaller tanks. Nearly all of them jump, so a lid is not optional.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp Goby | Cryptocentrus / Amblyeleotris spp. | 8-13 cm | 110 L | Yes | A group of species that pair up with pistol shrimp, sharing a burrow the shrimp digs. Ask which we have in. |
| Gold Head Sleeper Goby | Valenciennea strigata | 18 cm | 300 L | Yes | Sifts sand constantly for food. Needs a deep, fine sandbed and an established tank. |
| Scissortail Goby scissortail dartfish |
Ptereleotris evides | 14 cm | 200 L | Yes | Hovers above the rock and darts into a hole when startled. A committed jumper. |
| Zebra Goby zebra barred dartfish |
Ptereleotris zebra | 12 cm | 200 L | Yes | Finely barred green. Best in a small group. |
Rabbitfish and foxface
Foxface and rabbitfish are the same group, and they are excellent algae grazers. All of them carry venomous dorsal spines, so handle with care and never net one carelessly. They may sample soft coral once the algae runs out.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxface | Siganus vulpinus | 24 cm | 500 L | With caution | Can blotch its colour dramatically when stressed or asleep. Venomous spines. |
| Magnificent Foxface | Siganus magnificus | 24 cm | 500 L | With caution | Cleaner-marked than the common foxface. Venomous spines. |
| Goldspot Rabbitfish | Siganus punctatus | 35 cm | 800 L | With caution | Gets large. Heavily spotted gold on blue-grey. Venomous spines. |
Eels and morays
Morays are long-lived, personable and completely escape-prone. A sealed lid with no gaps at the pipework is the price of keeping one. Every species here will eat shrimp, small fish and anything else it can fit in its mouth.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowflake Eel | Echidna nebulosa | 60 cm | 500 L | Coral yes, inverts no | The usual first moray. Feeds mostly on crustaceans and has blunt crushing teeth rather than needle teeth. |
| Zebra Eel | Gymnomuraena zebra | 90 cm | 900 L | Coral yes, inverts no | Boldly banded and very docile for its size, but it gets long. |
| White Eye Moray | Gymnothorax thyrsoideus | 65 cm | 600 L | Coral yes, inverts no | More active than the snowflake and quicker to take fish. |
Triggerfish and tuskfish
Triggers are intelligent, destructive and long-lived. Most will rearrange rockwork, bite equipment and eat any invertebrate in the tank. The blue throat is the mildest of the group and the only one here that is often kept with coral.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Throat Triggerfish | Xanthichthys auromarginatus | 25 cm | 500 L | Usually | A plankton feeder and much calmer than the others. The one trigger commonly trusted in a reef tank. |
| Picasso Triggerfish humu humu |
Rhinecanthus aculeatus | 25 cm | 500 L | No | Hardy and full of personality, but it will eat inverts and harass tankmates. |
| Clown Triggerfish | Balistoides conspicillum | 50 cm | 1900 L | No | Spectacular as a juvenile, genuinely dangerous to tankmates as an adult. |
| Queen Triggerfish | Balistes vetula | 50 cm | 1900 L | No | Very large and very aggressive. Usually kept alone. |
| Harlequin Tuskfish | Choerodon fasciatus | 25 cm | 500 L | Coral yes, inverts no | A wrasse rather than a trigger. Blue teeth are normal. Australian-collected specimens have the best reputation. |
Lionfish
Both species have venomous dorsal spines and a sting comparable to a bad wasp sting, or worse for anyone sensitive to it. They are slow, calm fish that eat any tankmate small enough to swallow.
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volitans Lionfish | Pterois volitans | 38 cm | 900 L | Coral yes, fish no | The large classic lionfish. Venomous spines - take care during maintenance. |
| Zebra Lionfish dwarf zebra lionfish |
Dendrochirus zebra | 18 cm | 350 L | Coral yes, fish no | Much smaller than the volitans and easier to house. Venomous spines. |
Cardinals, perch and other species
| Fish | Scientific name | Adult size | Minimum tank | Reef safe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banggai Cardinal listed as Bangai Cardinals |
Pterapogon kauderni | 8 cm | 110 L | Yes | Males brood the eggs in their mouths. Slow, calm, and suited to smaller tanks. |
| Flathead Perch | Rainfordia opercularis | 15 cm | 250 L | Coral yes, inverts no | An Australian species and an uncommon fish anywhere. Secretive; give it caves. |
Other fish we regularly stock
These are part of our regular range too. Several are sold under shop-floor names that cover more than one species, so rather than print figures that might not match the fish in the tank, ask us in store or ring 0420 484 584 and we will tell you exactly what it is, how big it gets and what it needs.
- Blue Tang
- Bristletooth Tang
- Lavender Tang
- Skunk Clownfish
- Tiger Blenny
- Great Barrier Reef Chromis
- Loveheart Goby
- Blue Spot Rabbitfish
- Leopard Moray
Choosing a first marine fish
If this is a new tank, the order matters more than the individual choice. Start with a clownfish or a small group of chromis once the tank has cycled, add gobies and blennies next, and leave tangs and angelfish until the system has been stable for months. Anthias and Achilles tangs are for later still.
The two mistakes we see repeated are buying for the size in the bag rather than the adult size, and adding the most aggressive fish first. A yellow tang added to an established community will settle; the same tang added first will defend the whole tank against everything that follows.
Coral, invertebrates and equipment
Alongside the fish, the shop carries SPS coral, LPS coral, soft coral, zoanthids and invertebrates, plus the equipment side: lighting, filtration, protein skimmers, test kits, food and supplements.
Unlike the fish, coral and dry goods can be bought online. See coral for sale in Australia for the coral range, or our Brisbane store page for everything else we carry.
Common questions
Do you ship marine fish?
No. Marine fish are in-store purchase and pickup only. We do not send live fish by courier or freight, and they cannot be ordered online. Coral and dry goods are a separate matter - email shop@galleryaquatica.com.au about coral delivery to your address.
Are all these fish in stock right now?
No. This page lists the species we usually carry, not live availability. Marine livestock arrives in batches and sells through unevenly. Ring 0420 484 584 before travelling, particularly for the less common species.
Can you hold a fish for me?
Ask us. Call or email and we will tell you what is possible at the time.
Where is the shop?
59/1631 Wynnum Road, Tingalpa QLD 4173, about fifteen minutes east of the Brisbane CBD. Open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm and weekends 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Which marine fish is best for a beginner?
A clownfish, an ocellaris in particular. They are hardy, they accept prepared food readily, they stay small, and they do not need an anemone. A small group of blue green chromis is the other common starting point.
Which of these fish are reef safe?
Tangs, clownfish, anthias, chromis, gobies, blennies and the Watanabe angel are generally trusted with coral. Dwarf angels and foxface may sample it. Large angelfish, most triggerfish and the Coris wrasse are not reef safe. The tables above give the status for each species.
Which fish here have venomous spines?
Both lionfish, all four foxface and rabbitfish, and the canary blenny. None are dangerous in normal aquarium keeping, but take care during maintenance and when netting them.
Do you stock freshwater fish as well?
The freshwater range covers filtration, treatments, plant care and aquascaping. Ask in store about current freshwater livestock.