CORAL Magazine’s Captive-Bred Marine Fish Species List for 2018

Please see the updated captive-bred marine fish species list for 2023!

A CORAL SPECIAL REPORT: The State of the Marine Breeder’s Art, 2018

by Tal Sweet and Matt Pedersen

CORAL Magazine’s Annual Listing of captive-bred marine aquarium fish species, current through early January, 2018

Excerpt from March/April 2018 issue of CORAL Magazine – subscribe today!

Since CORAL started compiling this list in 2013, breeders from around the world have continued to make impressive gains in the captive culture of marine aquarium fishes and other organisms. Whether it’s an intrepid hobbyist with a breeding project in the basement, a university-funded project, or a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture, anyone has the potential to make the next great discovery—wherewithal doesn’t guarantee success.

After the successful breeding of the Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) at Hawaii’s Oceanic Institute (2015) and the Pacific Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) at the University of Florida’s Tropical Aquaculture Lab (2016), researchers associated with Rising Tide Conservation added at least two new captive-bred species to the list of successes over the past year: the charismatic Reef Butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius) and the seemingly ever-more-rare Cuban Hogfish (Bodianus pulchellus), both bred for the first time in 2017. Dr. Judy St. Leger, who heads up the Rising Tide Initiative, says: “2017 was a year of capacity-building for the Program without tons of new species. 2018 looks to be a winner!”

Early in 2017, Todd Gardner, of Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead, New York, was among the first to claim a species first, bringing the off-limits Cuban Basslet (Gramma dejongi) into captive cultivation in his Long Island lab. Due to the Cuban trade embargo, it took tremendous effort to legally obtain the broodstock, but after considerable back-and-forth with the U.S. Government, it was determined that the captive-bred F1 offspring were not subject to the embargo and could be legally distributed throughout the United States. It’s fair to suggest that if this vibrant species gets a solid foothold in the U.S. trade, we’ll have Gardner and his associates to thank for it.

In similar fashion, Karen Brittain, working in her home lab on Oahu, Hawaii, successfully produced the world’s first captive-bred Hawaiian Yellow Anthias (Odontanthias fuscipinnis). Frank Baensch had succeeded in rearing this species from wild-collected eggs in 2013.

Attendees of the 2017 Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) in New Orleans were astonished by the news that Poma Labs, co-founded by Dr. Matthew L. Wittenrich and Nuri Fisher, had been successful at breeding multiple species of Chaetodontoplus spp. angelfishes. In addition to a few species that had been bred before, they bred four species for the very first time, including the Conspicuous Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus), a “Holy Grail” fish that currently retails for between $4,000 and $5,000 (see “Poma Rising,” page 30, CORAL Magazine, March/April 2018).

On another front, Wittenrich and Minnesota-based Chad Vossen were unaware that they were in a race to see who would be first to breed the highly coveted Ornate or Bellus Angelfish (Genicanthus bellus). It’s clear that Vossen was first to publish his success (via Facebook), but upon comparing notes, Vossen and Wittenrich acknowledged that Wittenrich accomplished the goal first. Early in 2018, there will be a small, publicized release of captive-bred Bellus Angels direct to aquarists in the United States by Poma Labs.

On the other side of the planet, in Palau, Tom Bowling of Biota Aquariums has continued to work with smaller fishes. Biota has raised several new goby species, including the Snoutspot Goby (Amblygobious esakiae), the Speartail Goby (Amblygobius calvatus), the Grooved Dwarfgoby (Trimma caesiura), and the Signal Goby (Signigobius biocellatus). Most notably, Biota grabbed attention in late 2017 with the breakthrough production of the Borbonius Anthias (Odontanthias borbonius). This rarely-seen deepwater Anthias is a high-priced fish associated with diver risk, so seeing it available as a captive-bred offering is reason for applause.

Last but not least, Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums (ORA) has added the Yellow Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus luteus) to its always-growing list of captive-bred firsts.

This, along with a handful of other species firsts, now brings the number of marine aquarium fish species that are known to have been successfully bred in captivity to 358. While this is a major achievement, there is still much work to be done—many of the species on the list are only available in very small quantities or have been one-offs.

Given the recent alarming developments in banning ornamental fish collection in Hawaii, the hobby has arrived at what may be a crucial point. Without access to wild-caught broodstock, it will be impossible for anyone, other than universities and commercial entities, to continue to work on breeding more species. Pressures such as these make it more important than ever to support those who are working on captive-breeding projects. For the individual marine aquarist, purchasing captive-bred fishes and aquacultured corals whenever possible is probably the easiest and most effective way to support these pioneering efforts.

CORAL’S FIRST-EVER CAPTIVE-BRED MARINE ORNAMENTAL INVERTEBRATES LIST

Check out Part II of this story for our first-ever attempt to capture and record the depth of marine ornamental invertebrate species that have been captive-bred, some of which are routinely available in the aquarium trade.

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The new 2018 Captive Bred Marine Fish Species List now supersedes the 2017 list, the 2016 list, the 2015 list, the 2014 list and the 2013 list. Color-coded perceived availability in the United States from November, 2016, through January, 2018, has been included this year:

Orange Common Name = New to the list this year
Pink Common Name = New to the list this year, but as a formerly overlooked accomplishment
Green = Commonly Available. Easy to find as a captive-bred fish, often from more than one source, throughout 2017.
Blue – Moderate to Low. Might have taken some searching, and availability may have been limited, potentially only with one source, but was reasonably obtainable as a captive-bred fish in 2017.
Purple = Scarce. Generally only one source or breeder is known, and potentially only a handful of specimens may have been available. You may have “had to know someone” or even know the breeder directly in order to obtain them as captive-bred fish during 2017.
Black = None. The authors and consulted parties were unaware of any retail availability of this species from a captive-bred source during 2017.

Angelfishes (Pomacanthidae)

Apolemichthys arcuatus, Bandit Angelfish

Apolemichthys trimaculatus, Flagfin Angelfish

Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus, Goldflake Angelfish

Centropyge acanthops, African Pygmy Angelfish

Centropyge argi, Cherub Angelfish

Centropyge bicolor, Bicolor Angelfish*

Centropyge bispinosa, Coral Beauty Angelfish

Centropyge colini,  Collins or Cocos Keeling Angelfish

Centropyge debelius, Debelius Angelfish

Centropyge fisheri, Fisher’s Angelfish

Centropyge flavissima, Lemonpeel Angelfish

Centropyge interruptus, Japanese Pygmy Angel

Centropyge joculator, Joculator Angelfish

Centropyge loricula, Flame Angelfish

Centropyge multicolor, Multicolor Angelfish

Centropyge potteri, Potter’s Angelfish

Centropyge resplendens, Resplendent Angelfish

Chaetodontoplus caeruleopunctatus, Bluespotted Angelfish

Chaetodontoplus cephalareticulatus, Maze Angelfish

Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus, Conspicuous Angelfish

Chaetodonotplus duboulayi, Scribbled Angelfish

Chaetodonotplus melasoma, Grey Poma or Black Velvet Angelfish

Chaetodonotplus meridethi, False Personifer Angelfish

Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus, Singapore Angelfish

Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis, Bluestriped Angelfish

Genicanthus bellus, Ornate Angelfish

Genicanthus personatus, Masked Angelfish

Genicanthus watenabei, Blackedged Angelfish

Holacanthus clarionensis, Clarion Angelfish

Holacanthus passer, Passer or King Angelfish

Paracentropyge multifasciata, Multibar Angelfish

Paracentropyge venusta, Purplemask Angelfish

Pomacanthus annularis, Annularis Angelfish

Pomacanthus arcuatus, Gray Angelfish

Pomacanthus asfur, Asfur Angelfish

Pomacanthus maculosus, Yellowbar Angelfish

Pomacanthus navarchus, Majestic or Blue Girdled Angelfish

Pomacanthus paru, French Angelfish

Pomacanthus semicirculatus, Semicircle Angelfish

Pomacanthus sexstriatus, Sixbar Angelfish

Anthias (Serranidae)

Odotanthias borbonius, Borbonius Anthias

Odontanthias fuscipinnis, Hawaiian Yellow Anthias

Pseudanthias hypselosoma, Stocky Anthias

Pseudanthias squamipinnis, Lyretail Anthias

Assessors (Plesiopidae) 

Assessor flavissimus, Yellow Assessor

Assessor macneilli, Blue Assessor

Assessor randalli, Randal’s Assessor

Basslets (Serranidae) 

Liopropoma carmabi, Candy Basslet

Liopropoma rubre, Swissguard Basslet

Rainfordia opercularis, Flathead Perch

Batfishes (Ephippidae) 

Chaetodipterus faber, Atlantic Spadefish

Platax bativianus, Zebra Batfish

Platax pinnatus, Pinnatus Batfish

Platax orbicularis, Orbiculate Batfish

Blennies (Blenniidae) 

Chasmodes bosquianus, Striped Blenny

Ecsenius gravieri, Red Sea Mimic Blenny

Ecsenius bicolor, Bicolor Blenny

Enchelyurus flavipes, Goldentail Comb-Tooth Blenny

Hypleurochilus multifilis, Featherduster Blenny

Hypsoblennius hentz, Feather Blenny

Meiacanthus atrodorsalis, Forktail Blenny

Meiacanthus bundoon, Bundoon Blenny

Meiacanthus grammistes, Striped Fang Blenny

Meicanthus kamohari, Kamohara Blenny

Meiacanthus mossambicus, Mozambique Fang Blenny

Meiacanthus nigrolineatus, Blackline Fang Blenny

Meiacanthus oualanensis, Canary Fang Blenny

Meiacanthus smithi, Disco Blenny

Meiacanthus tongaensis, Fang Blenny (Tonga)

Parablennius marmoreus, Seaweed Blenny

Petroscirtes breviceps, Mimic Fang Blenny

Salaria pavo, Peacock Blenny

Scartella cristata, Molly Miller Blenny

Boxfishes (Ostraciidae)

Acanthostracion quadricornis, Scrawled Cowfish

Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)

Chaetodon klienii, Klien’s, Orange or Sunburst Butterflyfish

Chaetodon milliaris, Milletseed or Lemon Butterflyfish

Chaetodon sedentarius, Reef Butterflyfish

Forcipiger flavissimus longirostris, Longnose Butterflyfish

Parachaetodon ocellatus, Kite Butterflyfish

Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae)

Apogon notatus, Spotnape Cardinalfish

Apogonichthyoides melas, Black Cardinalfish

Apogonichthyoides nigripinnis, Bullseye Cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus, Five-Lined Cardinalfish

Fowleria flammea, Red Stop Light Cardinalfish

Nectamia bandanensis, Bigeye Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus compressus, Ochre-Striped Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus cyanosoma, Yellow-Striped Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus luteus, Yellow Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus margaritophorus, Copper Lined Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus quadrifasciatus, Two-Striped Cardinalfish

Pterapogon kauderni, Banggai Cardinalfish

Pterapogon mirifica, Sailfin Cardinalfish

Sphaeramia nematoptera, Pajama Cardinalfish

Sphaeramia orbicularis, Orbic Cardinalfish

Zoramia leptacantha, Threadfin Cardinalfish

Marine Catfishes (Plotosidae)

Plotosus lineatus, Striped Eel Catfish

Clingfishes (Gobiesocidae) 

Gobiesox punctulatus, Stippled Clingfish

Gobiesox strumosus, Skilletfish

Clownfishes (Pomacentridae) 

Amphiprion akallopisos, Skunk Clownfish

Amphiprion akindynos, Barrier Reef Clownfish

Amphiprion allardi, Allard’s Clownfish

Amphiprion barberi, Fiji Barberi Clownfish

Amphiprion bicinctus, Red Sea (Two-Barred) Clownfish

Amphiprion chrysogaster, Mauritian Clownfish

Amphiprion chrysopterus, Orangefin Anemonefish

Amphiprion clarkii, Clarkii Clownfish

Amphiprion ephippium, Red Saddleback Clownfish

Amphiprion frenatus, Tomato Clownfish

Amphiprion latezonatus, Wide Band Clownfish

Amphiprion latifasciatus, Madagascar Clownfish

Amphiprion leucokranos, Whitebonnet Clownfish

Amphiprion mccullochi, McCulloch’s Clownfish

Amphiprion melanopus, Cinnamon Clownfish

Amphiprion nigripes, Blackfinned Clownfish

Amphiprion ocellaris, Ocellaris Clownfish

Amphiprion percula, Percula Clownfish

Amphiprion perideraion, Pink Skunk Clownfish

Amphiprion polymnus, Saddleback Clownfish

Amphiprion rubrocinctus, Australian Clownfish

Amphiprion sandaracinos, Orange Skunk Clownfish

Amphiprion sebae, Sebae Clownfish

Amphiprion tricinctus, Three-Band Clownfish

Premnas biaculeatus, Maroon Clownfish

Convict Blennies (Pholidichthyidae) 

Pholidichthys leucotaenia, Convict Blenny, Engineer Goby

Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

Abudefduf saxatilis, Sergeant Major

Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Orange Line Chromis

Amblyglyphidodon aureus, Golden Damselfish

Amphyglyphidodon curacao, Staghorn Damselfish

Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster, Yellow-belly Damselfish

Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis, Ternate Damselfish

Chromis cyaneus, Caribbean Blue Reef Chromis

Chromis nitida, Barrier Reef Chromis

Chromis viridis, Blue Green Chromis

Chrysiptera cyanea, Blue Devil Damselfish

Chrysiptera hemicyanea, Azure Damselfish

Chrysiptera parasema, Yellowtail Damselfish

Chrysiptera rex, King Demoiselle

Chrysiptera rolandi, Roland’s Damselfish

Chrysiptera talboti, Talbot’s Damselfish

Chrysiptera taupou, Fiji Blue Devil

Dascyllus albisella, Whitespot Damselfish, Hawaiian Dascyllus

Dascyllus aruanus, Three Stripe Damselfish

Dascyllus trimaculatus, Three Spot Domino Damselfish

Hypsypops rubicundus, Garibaldi Damselfish

Microspathodon chrysurus, Jewel Damselfish

Neoglyphidodon crossi, Cross’s Damselfish

Neoglyphidodon melas, Bowtie Damselfish

Neoglyphidodon nigroris, Black and Gold Chromis

Neopomacentrus bankieri, Lyretail Damselfish

Neopomacentrus cyanomos, Regal Damselfish

Neopomacentrus filamentosus, Brown Damselfish

Neopomacentrus nemurus, Yellow-Tipped Damselfish

Neopomacentrus violascens, Violet Demoiselle

Pomacentrus amboinensis, Ambon Damselfish

Pomacentrus caeruleus, Caerulean Damselfish

Pomacentrus coelestis, Neon Damselfish

Pomacentrus nagasakiensis, Nagasaki Damselfish

Pomacentrus pavo, Sapphire Damselfish

Dartfishes (Ptereleotridae) 

Nemateleotris decora, Purple Firefish

Parioglossus cf. dotui, Dotui Dartfish

Dottybacks (Pseudochromidae) 

Congrogadus subducens, Wolf Blenny

Cypho purpurascens, Oblique Lined Dottyback

Labracinus cyclophthalmus, Red Dottyback

Labracinus lineatus, Lined Dottyback

Manonichthys alleni, Allen’s Dottyback

Manonichthys polynemus, Longfin Dottyback

Manonichthys splendens, Splendid Dottyback

Ogilbyina novaehollandiae, Australian Pseudochromis

Oxycercichthys veliferus, Sailfin Dottyback

Pictichromis diadema, Diadem Dottyback

Pictichromis paccagnellae, Bicolor or Royal Dottyback

Pictichromis porphyrea, Magenta Dottyback

Pseudochromis aldabraensis, Neon Dottyback

Pseudochromis bitaeniatus, Double Striped Dottyback

Pseudochromis coccinicauda, Yellow-Breasted Dottyback

Pseudochromis cyanotaenia, Blue Bar Dottyback

Pseudochromis dilectus, Dilectus Dottyback

Pseudochromis elongatus, Red Head Elegant Dottyback

Pseudochromis flavivertex, Sunrise Dottyback

Pseudochromis fridmani, Orchid Dottyback

Pseudochromis fuscus, Dusky or Yellow Dottyback

Pseudochromis olivaceus, Olive Dottyback

Pseudochromis sankeyi, Sankey’s or Striped Dottyback

Pseudochromis springeri, Springer’s Dottyback

Pseudochromis steenei, Flamehead or Steen’s Dottyback

Pseudochromis tapeinosoma, Blackmargin Dottyback

Pseudochromis tonozukai, Tono’s or Orange Peel Dottyback

Pseudoplesiops wassi, Fleck Fin Dottyback

Dragonets (Callionymidae) 

Callionymus bairdi, Lancer Dragonet

Callionymus enneactis, Mosaic Dragonet

Synchiropus ocellatus, Scooter Blenny

Synchiropus picturatus, Spotted Mandarin

Synchiropus splendidus, Green Mandarin

Synchiropus stellatus, Red Scooter Blenny

Synchiropus sycorax, Ruby Red Dragonet

Drums (Sciaenidae) 

Equetus lanceolatus, Jackknife Fish

Equetus punctatus, Spotted Drum

Pareques acuminatus, High Hat

Pareques umbrosus, Cubbyu

Filefishes (Monacanthidae) 

Acreichthys tomentosus, Bristletail Filefish

Acreichthys radiata, Radiated Filefish

Oxymonacanthus longirostris, Orange Spotted Filefish

Rudarius ercodes, Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish

Stephanolepis hispidus, Planehead Filefish

Flagtails (Kuhliidae)

Kuhlia mugil, Barred Flagtail

Frogfishes (Antennariidae) 

Rhycherus filamentosus, Tasseled Frogfish

Gobies (Gobiidae) 

Amblygobius esakiae, Snoutspot Goby

Amblygobius calvatus, Speartail Goby

Amblygobius linki, Link’s Goby

Amblygobius phalaena, Banded Sleeper Goby

Coryphopterus personatus, Masked Goby

Cryptocentroides gobiodes, Crested Oyster Goby

Cryptocentrus cinctus, Yellow Watchman Goby

Cryptocentrus fasciatus, Y-Bar Watchman Goby

Cryptocentrus leptocephalus, Pink-Speckled Shrimp Goby

Cryptocentrus lutheri, Luther’s Prawn-Goby

Elacatinus chancei, Shortstripe Goby

Elacatinus colini, Belize Spongegoby

Elacatinus evelynae, Golden Neon or Sharknose Goby

Elacatinus figaro, Barber Goby

Elacatinus genie, Cleaning Goby

Elacatinus horsti, Yellowline Goby

Elacatinus louisae, Spotlight Goby

Elacatinus lori, Linesnout Goby

Elacatinus oceanops, Neon Goby

Elacatinus prochilos, Broadstripe Goby

Elacatinus puncticulatus, Red Headed Goby

Elacatinus randalli, Yellownose Goby

Elacatinus xanthiprora, Golden Goby

Eviota atriventris, Blackbelly Dwarfgoby

Eviota bifasciata, Twostripe Eviota

Eviota nigriventris, Red Neon Eviota Goby

Eviota punctulata, Finespot Eviota

Fusigobius pallidus, Transparent Cave Goby or Pale Sandgoby

Gobiodon citrinus, Citron Clown Goby

Gobiodon okinawae, Okinawan Goby

Gobiopsis quinquecincta, Jaguar Goby

Gobiosoma bosc, Naked Goby

Koumansetta hectori, Hector’s Goby

Koumansetta rainfordi, Rainford’s Goby

Lythrypnus dalli, Catalina Goby

Priolepis cincta, Girdled Goby

Signigobius biocellatus, Signal Goby

Stonogobiops yasha, Yasha or White Ray Goby

Tigrigobius macrodon, Tiger Goby (formerly Elacatinus macrodon)

Tigrigobius multifasciatus, Green Banded Goby

Trimma caesiura, Grooved Dwarfgoby

Grammas (Grammatidae) 

Gramma dejongi, Cuban Basslet

Gramma loreto, Royal Gramma

Gramma melacara, Blackcap Basslet

Lipogramma klayi, Bicolor Basslet

Groupers (Serranidae) 

Chromileptes altivelis, Panther or Humpback Grouper

Epinephelus lanceolatus, Giant or Bumblebee Grouper

Epinephelus marginatus, Dusky Grouper

Plectropomus areolatus, Squaretail Grouper

Pectropomus leopardus, Coral Trout

Serranus subligarius, Belted Sandfish

Grunts (Haemulidae) 

Anisotremus virginicus, Porkfish

Haemulon chrysargyreum, Smallmouth Grunt

Haemulon flavolineatum, French Grunt

Plectorhinchus vittatus, Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips

Hamlets (Serranidae) 

Hypoplectrus gemma, Blue Hamlet

Hypoplectrus guttavarius, Shy Hamlet

Hypoplectrus unicolor, Butter Hamlet

Jacks (Carangidae) 

Coryphaena hippurus, Mahi Maji**

Gnathanodon speciosus, Golden Trevally, Pilot Fish

Selene vomer, Lookdown

Trachinotus carolinus, Pompano**

Trachinotus goodie, Palometa**

Jawfishes (Opistognathidae) 

Opistognathus aurifrons, Pearly Jawfish

Opistognathus macrognathus, Banded Jawfish

Opistognathus punctatus, Finespotted Jawfish

Labrasomid Blennies (Labrisomidae)

Paraclinus grandicomis, Horned Blenny

Pipefishes (Syngnathidae) 

Doryrhamphus excisus, Bluestripe Pipefish

Doryrhamphus janssi, Janss’s Pipefish

Dunckerocampus baldwini, Flame Pipefish, Red Striped Pipefish

Dunckerocampus chapmani, Glow-tail Pipefish

Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus, Ringed Pipefish

Dunckerocampus naia, Naia Pipefish

Dunckerocampus pessuliferus, Yellow Banded Pipefish

Haliichthys taeniophorus, Ribboned Pipefish

Syngnathoides biaculeatus, Alligator pipefish

Syngnathus acus, Greater pipefish

Syngnathus floridae, Dusky Pipefish

Syngnathus fuscus, Northern Pipefish

Syngnathus leptorhynchus, Bay Pipefish

Syngnathus scovelli, Gulf Pipefish

Syngnathus typhle, Broadnosed Pipefish

Porcupinefishes (Diodontidae)

Diodon holocanthus, Longspined Porcupinefish

Puffers (Tetraodontidae) 

Arthoron nigropunctatus, Dog-faced Pufferfish

Chilomycterus schoepfi, Striped Burrfish

Canthigaster rostrata, Sharpnose Puffer

Lagocephalus spadiceus, Half-Smooth Golden Puffer

Sphoeroides annulatus, Bullseye Pufferfish

Sphoeroides maculatus, Northern Puffer

Rabbitfishes (Siganidae) 

Siganus canaliculatus, White-Spotted Spinefoot

Siganus fuscescens, Mottled Spinefoot

Siganus guttatus, Oranged-Spotted Rabbitfish

Siganus lineatus, Golden-Lined Spinefoot

Siganus rivulatus, Marbled Spinefoot

Siganus vermiculatus, Vermiculated Rabbitfish

Roundheads & Bettas (Plesiopidae) 

Calloplesiops altivelis, Marine Betta, Comet

Plesiops corallicola, Bluegill Longfin

Trachinops taeniatus, Eastern Hulafish

Seadragons (Syngnathidae) 

Solegnathus spinosissimus, Spiny Seadragon

Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, Common or Weedy Seadragon

Seahorses (Syngnathidae) 

Hippocampus abdominalis, Bigbelly Seahorse

Hippocampus algiricus, West African Seahorse

Hippocampus angustus, Western Spiny Seahorse

Hippocampus barbouri, Barbour’s Seahorse

Hippocampus bargibanti, Bargibant’s Seahorse

Hippocampus breviceps, Short-Head Seahorse

Hippocampus capensis, Knysna Seahorse

Hippocampus comes, Tiger Tail Seahorse

Hippocampus coronatus, Crowned Seahorse

Hippocampus erectus, Lined Seahorse

Hippocampus fisheri, Fisher’s Seahorse

Hippocampus fuscus, Sea Pony

Hippocampus guttulatus, Long-Snouted Seahorse

Hippocampus hippocampus, Short-Snouted Seahorse

Hippocampus histrix, Thorny Seahorse

Hippocampus ingens, Pacific Seahorse

Hippocampus kelloggi, Great Seahorse

Hippocampus kuda, Yellow or Common Seahorse (Hippocampus taeniopterus, currently considered a synonym of H. kuda, has also been reared)

Hippocampus patagonicus, Patagonian Seahorse

Hippocampus procerus, High-Crown Seahorse

Hippocampus reidi, Brazilian or Longsnout Seahorse

Hippocampus spinosissimus, Hedgehog Seahorse

Hippocampus subelongatus, Tiger Snout Seahorse

Hippocampus tuberculatus, Knobby Seahorse

Hippocampus trimaculatus, Longnose Seahorse

Hippocampus whitei, White’s Seahorse

Hippocampus zosterae, Dwarf Seahorse

Sharks, Bamboo (Hemiscylliidae) 

Chiloscyllium hasseltii, Hasselt’s Bamboo Shark

Chiloscyllium plagiosum, Whitespotted Bamboo Shark

Chiloscyllium punctatum, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

Hemiscyllium hallistromi, Papuan Epaulette Shark

Hemiscyllium ocellatum, Epaulette Shark

Sharks, Bullhead (Heterodontidae) 

Heterodontus francisci, Horn Shark

Sharks, Cat (Scyliorhinidae)

Atelomycterus marmoratus, Coral Catshark

Shrimpfishes (Centriscidae) 

Aeoliscus strigatus, Razorfish, Shrimpfish

Snappers (Lutjanidae) 

Lutjanus sebae, Red Emperor Snapper

Whiptail Rays (Dasyatidae) 

Taeniura lymma, Bluespot Stingray

Tangs & Surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae)

Paracanthurus hepatus, Pacific Blue Tang

Zebrasoma flavescens, Yellow Tang

Toadfishes (Batrachoididae) 

Allenbatrachus grunniens, Grunting Toadfish

Opsanus tau, Oyster Toadfish

Triggerfishes (Balistidae) 

Balistes vetula, Queen Triggerfish

Balistoides conspicillum, Clown Triggerfish

Xanthichthys mento, Crosshatch Triggerfish

Triplefins (Tripterygiidae)

Enneapterygius etheostomus, Snake Blenny

Wrasses (Labridae) 

Bodianus pulchellus, Cuban Hogfish

Cheilinus undulates, Humphead Wrasse

Halichoeres melanurus, Melanurus or Hoeven’s Wrasse

Halichoeres ornatissimus, Ornate, Ornamented, or Hawaiian Christmas Wrasse

Labroides dimidiatus, Cleaner Wrasse

Labroides phthirophagus, Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse

Lachnolaimus maximus, Hogfish

Parajulis poecilepterus, Rainbow Wrasse

*Provisional listing, minimal to no published proof, but from trusted source.

**Not first accomplished in the last year, but new to the list for 2018, as they are produced and distributed by participants in the aquarium trade, even if public aquariums are the main audience for these large fishes. These species “ride the line” as both gamefish and public aquarium fish, moreso than ornamentals for private, home-based husbandry.