Saltwater Fish + Corals in Chicago
SALTWATER AQUARIUMS
Shop saltwater fish, corals and reef aquarium essentials with knowledgeable support for building and maintaining a thriving marine aquarium.
Visit us at 6622 W. North Ave, near Oak Park, River Forest and Elmwood Park.
Saltwater Fish, Corals + Reef Supplies
YOUR LOCAL SALTWATER FISH STORE
Big Fish Aquarium carries saltwater fish, corals and reef aquarium supplies for hobbyists throughout Chicago and the surrounding area. Whether you’re building your first marine tank or maintaining an established reef, our team can help you choose livestock, equipment and supplies that work with your system.
What Are You Looking For?
Find saltwater livestock, live corals and trusted supplies for building and maintaining a healthy aquarium.
SALTWATER Fish
Explore marine fish for reef tanks, fish-only systems and established saltwater aquariums.
CORALS
Shop live corals for reef aquariums, with options for a range of tank conditions and experience levels.
Marine Invertebrates
Find shrimp, snails, crabs and other invertebrates for established saltwater systems.
Reef Food + Nutrition
Shop frozen, dry and specialty foods for marine fish, corals and reef inhabitants.
Reef Equipment
Find filtration, lighting, circulation and other equipment for saltwater and reef aquariums.
Water Care + Additives
Shop salt mixes, supplements, testing products and water-care essentials.
Get Help Choosing What Works Together
BUILDING A REEF?
Successful saltwater aquariums depend on more than choosing livestock you like. Tank maturity, water chemistry, lighting, flow, filtration and compatibility all play a role.
Tell the Big Fish Aquarium team about your setup and what you want to add. We can help you narrow down fish, corals and equipment that make sense for your aquarium.
Shop Current saltwater Inventory
Freshwater inventory changes throughout the week. Browse what’s currently available online or visit our Chicago store for additional fish, plants and invertebrates.
The Yellow Belly Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus var.) is a striking addition to large marine reef systems, combining vivid coloration with active grazing behavior. This regional variation of the classic Blue Tang develops a bright golden-yellow belly as it matures, creating a strong contrast against its royal blue body, black palette markings, and yellow tail.
Available in Small and Medium sizes, the Yellow Belly Blue Tang is an active swimmer that requires plenty of open space. Smaller juveniles may show less yellow on the belly, while medium-sized and mature specimens typically display more developed coloration. The yellow belly will become increasingly vibrant as the fish grows.
This tang thrives in a large, mature marine aquarium with excellent filtration, strong water movement, and plenty of established live rock for grazing, shelter, and nighttime resting areas. It is generally peaceful toward unrelated community fish but may become territorial toward other tangs or similarly shaped species.
To support its metabolism, immune system, and coloration, provide a varied diet with a heavy vegetable component. Offer high-quality spirulina flakes, herbivore pellets, and dried nori seaweed regularly. Frozen Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and other protein-rich foods may be offered as supplements.
Available Sizes
Small
A younger specimen that may have less developed yellow belly coloration. Ideal for hobbyists who want to watch the fish’s colors mature over time.
Medium
A more established specimen with stronger body size and typically more noticeable yellow belly coloration.
Note: Images shown are stock images and do not represent the exact fish you will receive. Coloration, markings, and body shape may vary slightly between individual fish. The yellow belly becomes more vibrant and pronounced as the fish matures.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive. Generally peaceful with community tankmates but may be territorial with other tangs.
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Diet: Herbivore / Omnivore with a heavy vegetable requirement
Reef Compatible: Yes
Maximum Size: 8 to 10 inches
Water Temperature: 72 to 78°F
Alkalinity: 8 to 12 dKH
pH: 8.1 to 8.4
Salinity: 1.020 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes
The Yellow Belly Blue Tang is an excellent choice for experienced reef hobbyists looking to add constant movement and high-impact color to the middle and upper areas of a large aquarium. Its natural grazing behavior can help manage microalgae growth on established rockwork.
Provide ample open swimming space, strong oxygenation, consistent water quality, and several secure crevices for resting. A reliable feeding schedule with frequent access to marine algae will help reduce stress and support long-term health.
Expert Shipping and Logistics
We use professional livestock packing procedures for national overnight delivery. Each order is packed with insulated materials and climate-appropriate heat or ice packs to help maintain stable temperatures during transit.
Our shipping process is designed to protect the health and vitality of your fish from our facility to your aquarium. Be prepared to receive the shipment promptly and begin the recommended acclimation process immediately upon arrival.
The Amphiprion Ocellaris - False Percula Clown (Tank Bred) is a spectacular centerpiece for the modern reef aquarium, known for its brilliant coloration and sophisticated social behavior. Characterized by a vibrant orange body and three strikingly white vertical bands outlined in thin black margins, this species is a masterclass in reef aesthetics. In the "Answering Machine" era of saltwater husbandry, the False Percula Clown is highly prized for its peaceful temperament, legendary hardiness, and its ability to cohabit beautifully with other peaceful reef residents and hosting anemones.
Unlike many wild-caught species, these Tank Bred specimens are acclimated to aquarium life from day one, making them more resilient and environmentally sustainable. They are active swimmers that typically hover near their chosen territory or host, providing a constant display of color and classic movement that has made them the most iconic fish in the hobby.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Reef Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 3.5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes
The False Percula Clown is an ideal candidate for any community reef tank or nano setup. While they are famous for their symbiotic relationship with anemones like the Bubble Tip (Entacmaea quadricolor), they do not require one to thrive and will often host in corals or specific rockwork. They are high-metabolism fish and should be fed a varied diet of high-quality pellets, flakes, and frozen meaty foods—such as mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp—at least twice daily. Being tank-bred, they are generally less aggressive and more social than their wild counterparts, but only one pair should be kept per tank unless the system is large enough to support multiple territories.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The B-Grade Holy Grail Gold Torch (Euphyllia glabrescens) is a powerhouse addition to any saltwater reef aquarium, blending high-impact aesthetics with essential utility. Featuring a striking, highly sought-after lineage where metallic gold and shifting green tentacles are capped with contrasting blue or purple tips, this large-polyp stony (LPS) coral brings iconic collector genetics to the aquarium. As a B-Grade specimen, it offers the prestigious "Holy Grail" color profile with a more subtle color saturation or variation than its A-grade counterparts, serving as a master of the "kinetic brilliance" era of reef keeping—and a natural biological focal point for the mid-water rockwork. It is a dedicated and dynamic centerpiece, making it a functional cornerstone of a premium marine ecosystem.
This prestigious LPS coral thrives in mature, established reef systems with moderate lighting (PAR 150-250) and moderate, indirect water flow that creates a rhythmic, swaying motion. While resilient by nature, its long, fleshy, sweeping architecture expands beautifully under stable water parameters, where it tirelessly absorbs dissolved organic nutrients. To ensure long-term health and maximum growth velocity, provide a dedicated supplemental diet of micro-pellets, pulverized reef foods, or frozen mysis and brine shrimp during evening feeding displays. Ensure your aquarium maintains steady calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels, as this species demands a consistent mineral foundation to build its branching skeletal structure.
Note: This is a "B-Grade" variety listing; specific color intensities, tentacle lengths, and exact color distributions will vary with each individual piece. Images shown are stock images and not the actual coral you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Aggressive (possesses long sweeper tentacles)
Placement: Middle (Secure rockwork)
Lighting: Moderate (PAR 150–250)
Water Flow: Medium (Indirect, dynamic swaying movement)
Diet: Photosynthetic / Omnivore (Benefits from target feeding)
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 11, pH 8.1 to 8.4, Salinity 1.024 to 1.026
Husbandry Notes
The B-Grade Holy Grail Gold Torch is a strategic choice for reef hobbyists looking for "iconic collector genetics" and a majestic, flowing growth habit at an accessible tier. Its specialized, elongated tentacles add a layer of deep movement and dramatic contrast to the middle reef zones, fluorescing beautifully under heavy actinic lighting. In the context of modern reef keeping, it is widely considered an exceptional "showpiece centerpiece" for introducing high-end visual motion to a display. For maximum success, provide ample clearance (at least 6 inches) from neighboring corals, as its aggressive sweeper tentacles will defend its territory, and ensure water movement is random and indirect to prevent flesh tearing against its sharp skeleton.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your premium marine livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these brilliant corals from the facility to your reef with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Dragon Wrasse, also known as the Rockmover Wrasse, is one of the most fascinating species for the specialized marine aquarium. In its juvenile stage, it displays a cryptic, leafy appearance with elongated dorsal spines that mimic drifting seaweed—a perfect example of natural camouflage. As it matures into its adult form, it transforms into a sleek, formidable predator with a sophisticated grey and black mottled pattern.
This species is a master of the "Answering Machine" era of reef-keeping knowledge, known specifically for its high intelligence and unique behavior of flipping over rocks and coral rubble in search of prey. Because of its active nature and impressive adult size, it requires a spacious environment with a deep sand bed and plenty of loose rockwork.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 100 Gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Compatible: No (Will eat invertebrates and move small corals)
Max Size: 12 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes The Dragon Wrasse is an expert-level "rockmover." It is highly recommended for fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) systems rather than delicate reef tanks, as its natural instinct to overturn décor can disrupt coral placement. Provide a varied diet of meaty foods including mysis shrimp, krill, and chopped seafood. A thick sand bed (3-4 inches) is essential, as this species will bury itself at night or when it feels threatened. Ensure the tank is tightly covered, as they are powerful jumpers.
Expert Shipping & Logistics We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Ultra Red and Green Rock Flower Anemone combines a broad oral disc, short tentacles, and intense contrasting coloration. It remains more compact than many host anemones and typically settles into a crevice or sand-rock boundary.
Key benefits:
Ultra Red and Green Color: Creates a bright focal point under reef lighting.
Compact Growth: Works in smaller reef displays than large host anemones.
Limited Wandering: Often settles into a suitable crevice or substrate location.
Specifications:
Scientific Name: Phymanthus crucifer
Common Name: Rock Flower Anemone
Care Level: Moderate
Lighting: Moderate
Water Flow: Low to moderate
Placement: Rock crevice or sand-rock boundary
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Color Grade: Ultra
Color: Red and green
Diet: Photosynthetic with supplemental meaty foods
Suggested use: Place near a rock crevice or where the foot can settle beneath the substrate. Leave space from corals and other anemones. Small pieces of meaty marine food may be offered occasionally after it becomes established.
Image note: Product images are for reference only. Some images may be AI-generated and may not represent the exact specimen received.
The Apogon Nematoptera - Pajama Cardinal is a spectacular centerpiece for the modern reef aquarium, known for its brilliant coloration and sophisticated social behavior. Characterized by a greenish-yellow face, a bold black vertical mid-section band, and a posterior body adorned with striking orange polka dots, this species is a masterclass in reef aesthetics. In the "Answering Machine" era of saltwater husbandry, the Pajama Cardinal is highly prized for its peaceful temperament and its ability to cohabit beautifully with other peaceful reef residents.
Unlike many other cardinalfish species, the Pajama Cardinal is a diurnal-leaning nocturnal species that prefers to hang suspended in the water column in small groups. They are exceptionally active swimmers that occupy the middle levels of the water column, providing a constant display of color and unique, synchronized movement.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 3.5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes
The Pajama Cardinal is an ideal candidate for a community reef tank. While they do not require a sand bed for sleeping, they do require plenty of live rock with caves and crevices to feel secure during the day. They are high-metabolism fish and should be fed a varied diet of frozen meaty foods—such as mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp—at least twice daily. To see their best behavior, it is recommended to keep them in small schools. They are notoriously hardy and adjust well to captive life, making them a staple for any stable reef system.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Green Anthias (Pseudanthias huchtii), specifically the female, is a powerhouse addition to any marine reef aquarium, blending high-impact aesthetics with essential utility. Featuring a vibrant, neon lime-to-yellow body with a distinct orange or pink stripe running through the eye, this active schooler is a master of the "upper-water column" era of reef keeping—serving as a natural biological indicator of a high-flow, high-oxygen environment. It is a dedicated zooplankton feeder, making it a functional cornerstone of a healthy marine ecosystem.
This hardy anthias thrives in established systems with massive horizontal swimming space and robust water movement. While generally peaceful, its social nature means it is best kept in small groups (one male to several females) to ensure it feels secure and displays its synchronized, shimmering movements. To ensure long-term health, provide a varied diet of high-quality frozen Mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and copepods, ideally fed multiple times per day to accommodate its high metabolism. Ensure your aquarium is well-sealed, as anthias are active jumpers when startled or during social interactions.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive (Peaceful with non-anthias)
Minimum Tank Size: 75–125 Gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 4–5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.023 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes
The Green Anthias is a strategic choice for hobbyists looking for "constant kinetic energy" in the upper reaches of the tank. Its specialized behavior of hovering in the current adds a layer of depth to the reef structure that few other species can match. In the context of modern reef keeping, it is widely considered an essential "display schooler" for adding both vibrant color and a sense of natural reef activity. For maximum success, provide an environment with high-capacity filtration and stable water parameters to facilitate its demanding nutritional needs and social vitality.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
Healthy Saltwater Livestock
Quality fish, corals and invertebrates for established and new aquariums.
Shop Online or In Store
Browse current inventory online or visit our Chicago aquarium store.
Local Aquarium Experts
Get straightforward help choosing compatible livestock, equipment and care products.
Professional Livestock Shipping
Select saltwater livestock can be shipped directly to your door.
FIND THE RIGHT SALTWATER FISH FOR YOUR TANK
Start with your aquarium type, experience level or preferred fish family to narrow down the best options for your setup.
WYSIWYG CORALS
Shop individually photographed corals where the piece you see is the exact coral you’ll receive.
BEGINNER-FRIENDLY SALTWATER FISH
Explore hardy, manageable freshwater species that work well for newer aquarium keepers.
SPS CORALS
Explore small-polyp stony corals known for intricate growth patterns, vibrant color and structured reef displays.
PEACEFUL REEF FISH
Browse reef-friendly fish that can thrive in thoughtfully stocked saltwater aquariums.
SHRIMP, SNAILS + CLEANUP CREWS
Browse marine invertebrates that help support a healthy, balanced saltwater aquarium.
LPS CORALS
Shop large-polyp stony corals with bold color, movement and distinctive shapes for established reef aquariums.
SALTWATER Aquarium FAQ
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Big Fish Aquarium carries saltwater fish, corals, marine invertebrates and reef aquarium supplies in Chicago. Livestock availability changes regularly, so check current inventory or contact the store if you’re looking for something specific.
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Can you help me choose fish and corals that are compatible?
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A saltwater aquarium typically requires appropriate filtration, circulation, lighting, saltwater preparation, testing equipment and a properly cycled system before livestock is added. The exact setup depends on whether you’re planning a fish-only tank or reef aquarium.