Fish are the most conspicuous inhabitants of the Coral Reef. The reef abounds with hundreds of species. Of an estimated 12,000 fish species over 7000 make the coral reef their home.

Most use the soft and hard corals as hiding places from predators. Some, like Parrotfish take bites of the hard coral to ingest the algae which live within the coral.

Most reef fish propagate by laying eggs which are fertilized by the male in the water column.

Reef fish are generally far smaller than their cousins in the open ocean and remain in one territory for most of their lives.