Golden Damselfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Give it a 200 litre or larger tank with open water and some flow at 24 to 27 C. It is reef safe and peaceful while young but gets feistier as it grows, so watch it with timid tankmates. Feed flake, pellets and frozen mysis or brine several times a day. It can be kept in a small group in a large tank, though pairs may clear a coral to nest.

In the wild

The golden damselfish is a solid golden-yellow damsel that hovers in the current along steep outer slopes, often near gorgonians and wire corals. It picks plankton from the water rather than grazing a rock territory. It is hardy and holds its bright yellow well. Adults grow more assertive with age.

Good to know

Amblyglyphidodon aureus reaches about 12 cm and feeds largely on zooplankton on current-swept slopes. Breeding pairs clear a patch of sea whip or coral to lay their eggs. It is a good deal larger and more mid-water than most reef damsels.

Did you know

A breeding pair will strip the living tissue from a patch of soft coral or sea whip to create a bare surface for their eggs.

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