List of marine aquarium invertebrate species
Introduction This is a list of various species of '''marine invertebrates''', animals without a backbone, that are commonly found in '''aquariums''' kept by hobby aquarists. Some species are intentionally collected for their desirable aesthetic characteristics. Others are kept to serve a functional role such as consuming algae in the aquarium. Some species are present only incidentally or are pest species.
[[Annelid]]s  Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Christmas tree worm  center  ''Spirobranchus giganteus''  Yes  Expert    Found living anchored in live coral colonies in nature. Each worm has two crowns, which come in a variety of different colors, and are spiraled in the shape of a Christmas tree. Cluster duster  center  ''Bispira brunnea''  Yes  Moderate   This species grows in groups of up to 100 individual tube worms, living together in a single clump. The clusters of tubes adhere to a rocky substrate at a central point. Feather duster worm, Fan worm  center  ''Sabellastarte sp.'' Yes  Easy to Moderate A sedentary (but it can scoot around), tube dwelling worm with a fan-shaped crown (radiole) that projects from the end of the tube. This can be white, tan, orange, sometimes with striping. They build their tubes out of sand, mud, and bits of shell.
[[Arthropod]]s ===Cheliceratas=== Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Atlantic horseshoe crab  center ''Limulus polyphemus''  Yes, with caution  Easy  A bottom dwelling animal that is actually not a true crab. Found burrowing in mud or sand flats in the wild, they need a deep sand bed in their aquarium. Sea spider  center  Pycnogonids  No    Not collected for the aquarium trade, but occasionally seen on live rock and corals as a hitchhiker. They can be pests in a reef tank, preying on soft coral, sponges and anemones. ===Crustaceans=== Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Notes Max size Anemone crab  center ''Neopetrolisthes maculatus''  Yes  Easy  It lives in anemones. Also a filter feeder  Arrow crab  center  ''Stenorhynchus seticornis''  with caution      Hermit crabs  center  ''Paguroidea sp.'' Will eat snails  Easy     Emerald crab  center  ''Mithraculus sculptus''  With caution? Easy  May eat fish   Pom-pom crab  center  ''Lybia tessellata''  With caution? Easy? Sally lightfoot crab  center  ''Percnon gibbesi''  With caution? Easy? Spider decorator crab  center  ''Camposcia retusa''  With caution? Easy? Will get some polyps to use for cover. Spiny lobster  center  ''Panulirus versicolor''         Brine shrimp  center  ''Artemia salina''  Yes  Easy  Kept not as livestock, but rather to feed inverts and fish. Sexy shrimp  center  ''Thor amboinensis''  Yes  Easy     Snapping shrimp  center  ''Alpheidae sp.'' With caution? Will make loud snapping sounds. Peacock mantis shrimp  center  ''Odontodactylus scyllarus''  with caution  Easy  Will eat shelled things and possibly fish. Some people say they will redecorate their tank including moving corals but people have successfully kept them in reef tanks. Not a true shrimp but a stomatapod with the smashing raptorial appendage  Coral banded shrimp  center  ''Stenopus hispidus''  Yes  Easy  Will eat small fish, in the wild they set up cleaning stations  Camel shrimp  center  ''Rhynchocinetes durbanensis''  Yes  Easy? Will nip on soft corals. Harlequin shrimp  center  ''Hymenocera sp.'' Will eat starfish  Moderate? Will only eat starfish. Peppermint shrimp  center  ''Lysmata wurdemanni complex''  Yes  Easy  some people think they eat coral but only eat dying coral giving the appearance of eating healthy corals  Skunk cleaner shrimp  center  ''Lysmata amboinensis''  Yes  Easy  Will clean dead tissue and remove parasites from fish.
[[Coral]]s ===Corallimorphs=== Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Temperament   Care Level Description Max size Jewel anemone  center   ''Corynactis viridis''         Knobbly mushroom coral, Florida false coral  center   ''Ricordea florida''         Knobbly mushroom coral, Yuma mushroom coral  center  ''Ricordea yuma''  Semi-aggressive  Moderate      Mushroom coral, Mushroom anemone, Disk anemone  center  ''Discosoma sp.'' Semi-aggressive  Easy     Strawberry anemone  center  ''Corynactis californica''        ===Hydrocorals=== Common name Image Taxonomy Temperament   Care Level Description Max size Lace coral  center  ''Distichopora sp.'' Fire coral  center  ''Millepora sp.'' ===Large-polyp stony=== Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Temperament Care Level Description Max size Black sun coral  center  ''Tubastraea micrantha''     Expert     Bubble coral  center  ''Plerogyra sinuosa''   Aggressive  Easy     Candy cane coral  center  ''Caulastrea furcata''  Peaceful  Easy     Elegance coral  center  ''Catalaphyllia jardinei''  Aggressive  Moderate    Flowerpot coral  center  ''Goniopora sp.'' Aggressive  Difficult     Frogspawn coral  center  ''Euphyllia divisa''  Aggressive Moderate      Hammer coral, Anchor coral  center  ''Euphyllia ancora''  Aggressive      Lobed brain coral  center  ''Lobophyllia hemprichii''  Semi-Aggressive       Open brain coral  center  ''Trachyphyllia geoffroyi''  Semi-aggressive      Pineapple brain coral, Moon coral   center  ''Favia sp.'' Aggressive      Sun coral, Orange cup coral  center  ''Tubastraea sp. '', often ''Tubastrea aurea''  Peaceful  Expert    Torch coral  center  ''Euphyllia glabrescens''  Aggressive      Whisker coral, Duncan coral  center  ''Duncanopsammia axifuga''  Peaceful  Easy   ===Small-polyp stony=== Common name Image Taxonomy Temperament Care level Description Max size Pink bird's nest coral   center  ''Seriatopora hystrix''         Cauliflower coral   center  ''Pocillopora sp. '', usually ''Pocillopora damicornis''         Dimpled encrusting Montipora  center   ''Montipora verrucosa''         Finger coral   center  ''Montipora digitata'' and ''Montipora samarensis''         Millepora coral, "Milli" coral  center  ''Acropora millepora''  Peaceful  Moderate  A popular and readily available species that comes in many color forms. It should not be confused with fire corals of the genus ''Millepora''. Plating montipora  center  ''Montipora capricornis''  Peaceful  Moderate     Staghorn coral  center  ''Acropora cervicornis''  Peaceful   Difficult  A very rare species, it is generally not available to the average hobby aquarist due to its critically endangered status. It would make a good aquarium specimen, but can only be obtained with a special license. ===Soft corals=== Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Temperament Care Level Description Max size Cabbage leather coral  center  ''Sinularia brassica'' and ''Sinularia dura''  Semi-aggressive  Easy     Clove polyps, Daisy polyps  center  ''Clavularia sp''  Peaceful  Easy     Devil's hand leather coral  center  ''Lobophytum sp.'' Peaceful to Semi-aggressive  Easy     Finger leather coral  center  ''Sinularia sp.'' Semi-aggressive  Easy     Jasmine polyps, Daisy polyps  center  ''Knopia''  Peaceful  Easy     Pulse coral, Pulsing Xenia  center  ''Xenia sp.'' Peaceful  Easy  An easy to care for coral known for its prolific asexual reproduction and polyps that actively move their tentacles in a pulsing motion. Red chili coral  center  ''Nephthyigorgia''  Peaceful  Expert     Spaghetti leather coral  center  ''Sinularia flexibilis''  Semi-aggressive  Easy     Star polyps  center  ''Clavularia viridis'', ''Pachiclavularia viridis'', or ''Briareum violaceum'' (taxonomy uncertain)  Peaceful  Easy   ===Zoanthids=== Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Temperament Care Level Description Max size Stick polyps, Tree polyps  center  ''Acrozoanthus''         Button polyps, Zoanthids, "Zoas"  center  ''Zoanthus'' Semi-aggressive  Easy    Common, but pretty, coral that is a mainstay of the reef hobby. Their diversity of color is almost infinite, ranging from pale to full-on rainbow. Button polyps, Palythoa, "Palys"  center  ''Palythoa'' Semi-aggressive  Easy   ''Palythoa'' are nearly as ubiquitous as ''Zoanthus'' in the reef hobby. Their colors are usually more muted, but still attractive. Button polyps, Protopalythoa  center  ''Protopalythoa''  Semi-aggressive  Easy  Similar to ''Palythoa'', these may actually be in the same genus due to taxonomic uncertainty.
[[Echinoderm]]s ===Sea cucumbers=== Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Florida sea cucumber center   ''Holothuria floridana''        Pink and black sea cucumber  center  ''Holothuria edulis''  Yes  Easy    Sea apple  center  ''Pseudocolochirus axiologus''  Maybe  Expert    Tiger tail sea cucumber   center ''Holothuria hilla''        Yellow sea cucumber  center  ''Colochirus robustus''  With care  Expert   ===Starfish=== Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max sizeBlue and pink sea star   ''Astropecten sp.'' Brittle star center  ''Ophiomastix'' Yes  Easy    Bun star  center  ''Culcita novaeguineae'' With care? Chocolate chip sea star  center  ''Protoreaster nodosus'' No  Moderate? Blue linckia  center  ''Linckia laevigata''       Indian Sea Star  center  ''Fromia indica'' Yes  Moderate   Mottled linckia center  ''Linckia multifora''      Little red star center  ''Fromia elegans''       Purple linckia    ''Linckia teres'', or ''Tamaria stria''  Yes  Difficult     Red Sea Star  center  ''Fromia millepora''  Yes  Moderate   Red-knobbed starfish center  ''Protoreaster linckii'' No      Sand sifting sea star   ''Astropecten polyacanthus'' Yes  Easy  Needs a large sandbed   Tiled sea star, marbled sea star  center  ''Fromia monilis'' Yes  Moderate   ===Crinoids=== Common name  Image  Taxonomy  Reef safe  Care Level  Description  Max size Feather star  120px  ''Himerometra robustipinna''      ===Urchins=== Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Black longspine urchin  center  ''Diadema setosum''        Collector urchin, Priest hat urchin, Sea Egg  center   ''Tripneustes gratilla''        Globe urchin, Tuxedo urchin  center  ''Mespilia globulus''        Slate pencil urchin   center   ''Eucidaris tribuloides''        Purple short spine pincushion urchin  center   ''Pseudoboletia maculata''        Red slate pencil urchin  center   ''Heterocentrotus mamillatus''        Reef urchin, Rock boring urchin   center  ''Echinometra sp.'' Variegated urchin  center  ''Lytechinus variegatus''
[[Jellyfish]]  Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size (bell diameter)Blue Blubber Jellyfish  center  ''Catostylus mosaicus''  No  Expert  This jellyfish actually ranges in color from white to dark purple to reddish brown. It has a dome-shaped bell which pulses at a quick, steady pace, making these jellyfish strong, active swimmers. Moon jellyfish center  ''Aurelia aurita''  No  Moderate to Difficult  A whitish to clear jellyfish with a large dinner-plate shaped bell. They have a fringe of short tentacles around the edge of the bell, and four longer oral arms extending from around the mouth. Sea Nettles  center  ''Chrysaora sp.'' No  Expert  Range in color from white to striped orange and brown to purplish. Long tentacles trail behind the bell, sometimes for several meters. Upside Down jellyfish  center  ''Cassiopea sp.'' No  Expert This jellyfish has a somewhat green or grayish blue coloration due to symbiotic algae living in its tissues. It resides on the bottom, exposing its tentacles (and the algae inside them) to the light. very similar to coral in behavior
[[Mollusk]]s ===Bivalves=== Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max sizeAtlantic Thorny oyster center ''Spondylus americanus''      Bear paw clam center  ''Hippopus hippopus''      Blue clam, Boring clam center  ''Tridacna crocea'' Yes     China clam   ''Hippopus porcellanus''       Electric flame scallop  center  ''Ctenoides ales'' Yes     Flame scallop center  ''Ctenoides scaber'' Yes     Fluted giant clam center  ''Tridacna squamosa'' Yes  Moderate? Flying scallop   ''Promantellum vigens''      Gigas aka "Giant" clam center  ''Tridacna gigas''  Yes     Maxima clam center  ''Tridacna maxima'' Yes  Moderate    Southern giant clam  center  ''Tridacna derasa''  Yes     Thorny oyster center  ''Spondylus sp.'' ===Gastropods=== Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max sizeAbalone  center  ''Haliotis sp.'' Yes  Easy   Arabian Cowrie  center  ''Cypraea arabica''        Astraea snail  center  ''Astraea sp.'' Yes  Easy    Bumble bee snail  center  ''Engina mendicaria''  Yes  Easy    Cerith snail  center  ''Cerithium sp.'' Yes  Easy    Gold ring cowrie  center  ''Cypraea annulus''       Lettuce sea slug  center  ''Elysia sp. '', usually ''Elysia crispata''  Yes  Moderate  A sacoglossan sea slug with folded parapodia (side appendages), that give it a lettuce-like appearance. They feed on algae, and incorporate algal chloroplasts into their cells. Color ranges from brownish to green, and can include blues, yellows, and pinks. Nassarius snail  center  ''Nassarius sp.'' Yes  Easy     Queen conch  center  ''Eustrombus gigas''  Yes, but may knock over loose rocks and coral. Sand conch  center  ''Strombidae''      Sea Hare  center  Aplysiomorpha sp., usually ''Aplysia sp.'' or ''Dolabella sp.'' Yes  Expert     Tiger cowrie,  center  ''Cypraea tigris''        Turbo snail  center  ''Turbo sp.'' Yes  Easy    ===Cephalopods=== Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max sizeCommon tropical octopus  center ''Octopus vulgaris'' No  Expert  '''Mantle:'''   '''Arms:''' Dwarf cuttlefish  center ''Sepia bandensis'' No  Expert   '''Mantle:''' European common cuttlefish  center ''Sepia officinalis'' No  Expert   '''Mantle:'''
[[Sea anemone]]s  Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Aptasia  center  ''Aiptasia sp.'' No    A common pest species in marine aquariums which spreads rapidly and harms corals and invertebrates with their sting. Can sting fish, but fatalities are rare. Notoriously difficult to eradicate, but a number of organisms can be used for control, including peppermint shrimp and ''Berghia verrucicornis''. Bubble-tip anemone  center  ''Entacmaea quadricolor''  With caution  Moderate  A relatively easy to keep anemone species, it is very colorful, and has distinctive bubble-like swellings on the tips of its tentacles. Condy anemone  center  ''Condylactis gigantea''  With caution  Moderate  Common anemone species in the aquarium trade. The base color is usually brown to white, often with color on tentacle tips. Many color variations exist, including magenta, purple, yellow, and green. Delicate sea anemone  center  ''Heteractis malu''  With caution  Difficult  Also known as the malu anemone or white sand anemone. Color tipped tentacles reach 4 cm in length. This anemone should not be placed on a rock, it prefers a sandy substrate to bury its base in. Long tentacled anemone  center  ''Macrodactyla doreensis''  With caution  Moderate    Magnificent anemone  center  ''Heteractis magnifica''  With caution  Expert  One of the most difficult anemone species to keep healthy in captivity. Rock flower anemone  center  ''Phymanthus crucifer''  With caution  Moderate    Tube anemone  center  ''Cerianthus sp.'' Yes  Moderate  Not a true anemone (actinarian), but a member of the order Ceriantharia. Can make a very colorful aquarium specimen, colored with pinks, purples and sometimes shades of fluorescent green.
[[Sponge]]s  Common name Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Ball sponge    ''Cinachyra allocladia''  Yes  Expert    Branching vase sponge  center  ''Callyspongia vaginalis''  Yes  Expert   Bee sponge  center  '' Acanthella sp.'' Yes  Expert    Orange ball sponge   ''Cinachyra kuekenthali''  Yes  Expert    Orange fan sponge    ''Axinella bookhouti''  Yes  Expert    Red ball sponge   center''Dragmacidon lunaecharta''  Yes  Expert    Red tree sponge  center  ''Amphimedon compressa''  Yes  Expert    Pineapple Sponge   center''Sycon''  Yes    Commonly regarded as a pest species
[[Tunicates]]  Common name(s) Image Taxonomy Reef safe Care Level Description Max size Blue lollipop tunicate  center  ''Nephtheis fascicularis''  Yes  Expert     Golden sea squirt, Ink-spot sea squirt  center  ''Polycarpa aurata''  Yes  Moderate    }
See also *List of marine aquarium fish species*List of marine aquarium plant species*List of freshwater aquarium invertebrate species*List of brackish aquarium invertebrate species*Marine aquarium*Reef aquarium
References * Alderton, David (2005). Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish (Second ed.). DK Publishing, Inc. pp. 286–297..* Lougher, Tristan (2008) First Published 2007.What Invertebrates? : A Buyer's Guide for Marine Aquariums. What Pet? Books Series. Barron's Educational Series, Inc. . LCCN 2006933016.