Lemon Damsel

Care at a glance

Overview

Lemon Damsels have a calmer reputation than most damsels and are frequently recommended as one of the better-behaved choices for a mixed reef community. They can still turn territorial once settled in, particularly toward other yellow or similarly shaped fish, but they rarely go out of their way to harass slow or peaceful tankmates the way a Dascyllus will. They are completely safe around coral and invertebrates and work well in both nano and medium reef tanks. Feed a diet built around algae and herbivore preparations along with some frozen mysis or brine shrimp, since diet quality shows directly in their color.

In the wild

Found across the Western Pacific from the Andaman Sea to Fiji and north to the Ryukyu Islands, typically in clear lagoons and reef slopes with plenty of branching coral to duck into. In a reef tank it will often shelter among Acropora branches just as it would on a wild reef, so live rock with real gaps is worth providing. A 110 liter (30 gallon) tank is a comfortable minimum.

Good to know

Pomacentrus moluccensis gets much of its bright yellow color from carotenoid pigments picked up through diet, which is why a food-poor tank can leave captive fish looking washed out next to wild specimens. It forages during the day on algae and small planktonic invertebrates just above the reef and retreats to cover at night. Breeding follows the standard damsel pattern of demersal eggs guarded by the male, and captive-bred stock is now regularly produced by commercial marine fish farms.

Did you know

A startled Lemon Damsel can fade from bright solid yellow to a pale, blotchy color within moments, a quick camouflage response that fades back once the danger passes.

Related species

• 

  Allen's Damsel

  Pomacentrus alleni

  2.4 in (6 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Neon Damselfish

  Pomacentrus coelestis

  3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Barberi Clownfish

  Amphiprion barberi

  3.5 in (9 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Starck's Damsel

  Chrysiptera starcki

  3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Pink Skunk Clownfish

  Amphiprion perideraion

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Ocellaris Clownfish

  Amphiprion ocellaris

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)