Tropical Reef Fish

Stunningly vibrant species at SEA LIFE Sydney

SEA LIFE, Day and Night on the Reef

Please be aware that our Day & Night on the Reef oceanarium is currently closed for an exciting update – ocean explorers will still be able to see our amazing creatures, including our dugong, sharks, rays, jellyfish, turtles, penguins and our other incredible marine life throughout the rest of the aquarium! Please sign up to our newsletter for updates on our Day & Night on the Reef oceanarium reopening.

Discover the wonders of the reef with some of our most vibrant species

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On any day of the week here, you'll see children enthusiastically prodding their fingers against the glass shouting 'I found Nemo!' The Clown Anemonefish is highly adapted to its environment, striking up one of nature's most unique partnerships as a defence mechanism. Juveniles develop an immunity to certain types of sea anemone, within the tentacles of which they hatch. However, it's a short-lived mode of protection, as this immunity needs to be regularly maintained, seemingly wearing off if the fish leaves its host anemone for as little as an hour.

Dory the Blue Tang loves Sydney in Winter

The familiar and friendly Regal Blue tang is renowned for its distinctive royal blue body and tail. They are also commonly known as Palette surgeonfish and the Hippo tang. Regal Blue tangs can grow up to 20-30 centimetres in length and are typically found amongst coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Oceans, East Africa, Japan, Samoa, New Caledonia and Australia. Juveniles mostly feed on plankton while the diets of the adult tangs are omnivorous, feeding on plankton and algae.

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The Harlequin tuskfish is a solitary and monogamous species from the wrasse family found in regions the Western Pacific Ocean. This blue, green and orange coloured species can grow up to 30 centimetres in length and its diet consists of crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates.

The Unicornfish, named after its unicorn-like horn on its head is commonly found amongst coral and rocky reefs. It can grow up to 60 centimetres in length and has a predominantly herbivorous diet, feeding on algae.

Angelfishes of the genus Pomacanthus are known for their dramatic colour changes with growth. The species occurs on coral reefs, however juveniles are often seen under ledges near cleaner shrimp.