Is it a fish? Is it a damsel in distress? Well, technically, we are referring to a large group of fish in a single-family, over 250 species in fact.
So although each type of Damselfish (Pomacentridae family) will exhibit its own unique characteristics, in this article, we will focus on some of the common denominators and family-wide characteristics. And we’ll highlight some of the most popular varieties available to the hobby and detail a little bit about them too.
For a moniker like Damselfish, you might think that they are shy or peaceful, want no part in a tank squabble. And if you think that, you would be resolutely wrong! Far from needing to be rescued, they are notoriously aggressive fish with what has been described as an explosive temperament. Maybe it refers to other fish needing to be rescued after being in their presence? The plot thickens.
Damselfish are marine species or saltwater fish, with a few of whom can tolerate brackish water conditions also. They are very hardy, great for beginners to the hobby who want to start with a saltwater tank setup, and readily available with a wide variety. Their hardiness and the difficulty of getting their living conditions ‘wrong’ possibly outweigh their aggressive streak explaining their popularity.
Most variants are found native to tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, although a few can be found in the Caribbean and Atlantic.
Let’s take a look at these bombshells of the coral reef and see what makes them tick (detonator not required).
Damselfish Behavior
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way.
As already mentioned, these tropical fish run hot but not because of the water temperatures they prefer! One of the most popular varieties is the Blue Damselfish, and it is also known as a Blue Devil, precisely because of its inflammatory temperament.
This angry disposition keeps Damselfish pretty keyed up, ready for anything, and always trying to take on fish far larger than themselves given the chance. All it takes is a rogue interloper into their carefully delineated turf, and they’ll charge, which can be entertaining for the casual observer, or heart-stopping for the dedicated hobbyist just trying to attend to their labor of love and keep the peace.
Because their tolerance to ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates was so extensive, they were often popular for cycling saltwater tanks up until fishes cycling became more commonplace.
So how violent are they? Let’s just say you don’t want to put a bare hand in the tank, or they will try to bite you. And it’s probably worth noting a well-fitted hood should factor into your set up or the family cat who takes a little too much interest might end up with a paw injury.
They can be belligerent towards any other species, even those that are peaceful and don’t have a defensive attitude. They can stress out the other fish to the point of death as they can be rather relentless with the chasing around the tank and nipping.
Smaller tanks encourage this territorial behavior, and they will attempt to rule the entire tank in such cases, so larger tanks will work better if you’re going to mix in other species.
Ideally, you should introduce them to a tank community last as if they have the tank to themselves for any period of time; they will consider the entire tank their personal universe not to be messed with.
What else do these fish do? Forage for food, that is, if they aren’t harassing other fish. They will feed at the top of the water column when larger in size, but when they are smaller will feed nearer to the substrate.
Damselfish Lifespan
If you cater to the needs of your Damselfish, you could expect them to live for around 6 – 8 years. The quality of their tank conditions will impact their lifespan, as always, so you can expect a longer life if you meet their requirements meticulously.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Damselfish Appearance
Most Damselfish are vibrantly colored and look fabulous in a saltwater tank.
For the most part, they don’t exceed 4 inches in length and have a classic flattened body shape that is rectangular in proportion with small, mostly translucent fins.
Large round eyes, a small pointed beak of a mouth, and dorsal and anal fins that start midway to two-thirds down the length of the body.
This is a general description of these fish, however. As there are so many variants, there is a lot of variety to their looks, but in general, they are very similarly shaped to Cichlids.
These are some of the most typical species sold in the hobby by popularity listed below.
Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanae)
Far and away the most popular, this is the original Blue Devil. A vivid electric blue in color, this is the one with a major attitude. Males can have yellow on their noses and tail.
Yellowtail Damselfish (Chrysiptera parasema)
Similarly brilliant blue, but with a fully yellow tail as described by name. The pelvic fins are also yellow, and there can occasionally be some yellow on the end of the dorsal, anal fins too. This particular Damselfish is one of the least aggressive, so be sure you know which species you are getting! Ensure you have the full species name to hand and are buying from a reputable stockist.
Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
This Damselfish is also a vivid blue and yellow, but this time it sports its coloring horizontally. The top half of the body is blue, and the ventral half is yellow.
Domino Damselfish (Dascyllus trimaculatus)
Featuring three large white spots on its body, this is one of the larger variants that can reach up to 5 inches and is possibly even more aggressive than the Blue Devil himself. This species is probably best left for the more experienced in the hobby.
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus)
A variant native to the Caribbean, this fish can grow up to 4 inches in length. It’s a tale of two halves, with the front half being a dark greyish-black and the rear half being substantially paler in coloring.
Damselfish Habitat And Tank Requirements
Since in the wild, these are tropical coral reef fish, you need to mimic this as best possible.
It should go without saying that you should use sea salt mix to recreate marine water, and any good supplier should be able to help you out setting this up.
Damselfish Tank Conditions
Tropical fish need a tropical climate, so a heater should be included in your setup aiming for a steady 79 – 82ºF (26 – 27ºC) if possible.
Canister filters work well for these fish to help regulate water quality.
Live rocks which are porous should be a key part of your landscape and should be the first thing added to your tank so that the beneficial bacteria, microorganisms, and microbiome can be established and rid ammonia from the tank. It needs to have been in the tank for at least two weeks before adding fish.
Caves and rocks will mimic the nooks and crannies of a coral reef, giving these fish areas to relax and hide but leaving plenty of room for open swimming.
Soft sand is an ideal substrate, and you should include some saltwater plants that will work well with the chemistry that is ideal for these fish. Some great plants to try include Turtle Grass Shoots, Mermaid’s Fan, Tufted Joint Algae, Blue Hypnea Algae, and Shaving Blue Plant.
Water changes need to be done weekly of at least 10 – 20% to keep optimum water quality.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- pH of 8.1 – 8.4
- Specific gravity between 1.020 – 1.025
- Water hardness 8 – 12 dKH
- Temperature between 74 – 82ºF (24 – 28ºC)
- Lighting conditions can be standard.
Damselfish Tank Size
These fish require a decent amount of space. A single mated pair need at least 30 gallons with no additional tank companions.
For any additional Damselfish of the same species that you add, you’ll need another 15 gallons each.
Choosing Tank Mates For Damselfish
When it comes to finding species appropriate for your Damselfish, you need to consider carefully.
Ideally, you’ll stick to a single species-only tank as even mixing different types of Damselfish is a recipe for disaster.
And you’ll need to have a relatively large tank (100 gallons and upwards) if you are thinking about having a different type of fish who will need to be fairly aggressive themselves and similarly sized. Basically, you need a fish who can defend itself and fight back.
Finally, your Damselfish must be the last introduced to the tank community, or else the other fish won’t get a chance to claim their own territory.
Some tank mate pairings for your Damselfish that might work well include:
- Clownfish
- Gobies
- Tangs
- Dottyback
- Dwarf Angelfish
- Dartfish
- Fairy Wrasses
Avoid anything aggressive like larger Cichlids or anything that is about twice the size of your Harlequin Rasboras, or they may try to make a meal out of your school.
How To Feed Damselfish
Damselfish are not picky eaters and will eat just about everything put in front of them. The majority are omnivores but do check with the stockist about the variety you are purchasing.
Whether you provide good, high-quality pellets or flaked food, you should also provide live and frozen foods for these skilled predators.
Try feeding them three small meals per day and take care not to overfeed them.
Interestingly, most variants will also consume algae so will help keep your tank clean.
A diverse array of live and frozen foods should be provided for your omnivores, such as:
- Bloodworms
- Brine Shrimp
- Mysid Shrimp
- Zooplankton
- Pellets and Flakes (high quality)
- Clams
- Squid meat
- Algae
- Copepods
- Moss
- Nano fish (live feeder species)
Damselfish Common Diseases And Illness
We have already mentioned that Damselfish are renowned for being hardy and downright difficult to inadvertently kill through poor tank conditions and cleaning regimes.
The single most common reason for illness or even death of a captive Damselfish is down to long-term ammonia exposure. This can often be indicated by their body color darkening and visible spots on their tails.
They are also susceptible to Marine Velvet Disease, Marine Ich, and Uronema Disease, all of which are parasitic in nature and need treatment by a marine vet.
How To Breed Damselfish
In captivity, Damselfish are not easy to encourage to breed.
If they do, it will be because they do it on their own and at their own time. The female will lay her eggs on the substrate when she has been suitably courted by a male who initiates the process and then fertilizes them.
He will then protect the eggs for the 3 – 7 days it will take for them to hatch, and they will feed on various types of plankton.
If you think you have the right ‘Devil may care’ attitude and are up for an adventure with an aggressive species of saltwater fish, this could be a match made in heaven.
Managing their tempers by keeping the density of the population appropriate, along with possibly sticking to a species-only tank, you can avoid much of the drama that comes with trying to get them to ‘play nice’ with others. Why add the hassle when they can co-exist with a few of their own kind and have their own territory?
Their hardy nature, vibrant and beautiful good looks, and straightforward tank maintenance off a great trade-off for newcomers to the hobby or perhaps to those wishing to dip their toe into a marine setup.
Just don’t dip your finger in the tank, or you might become the real Damsel in distress.
