Neon damselfish
Pomacentrus coelestis
Also known as Neon Damsel, Neon Blue Damsel, Electric Blue Damsel, Heavenly Damselfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Origin
- Indo-West Pacific from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, over rubble and reef flats in loose aggregations.
Overview
A 110 litre or larger tank with rock territories suits it at 24 to 27 C. It is reef safe and leaves corals and inverts alone, but it is aggressive toward other fish, so choose tankmates that can hold their own and add it late. Feed flake, pellets and frozen foods. In a large tank with lots of rock, a small group can work, though fighting is common.
In the wild
The neon damselfish is a brilliant electric blue fish, often with a yellow tail, that gathers in loose groups over rubble and reef flats. It is hardy, cheap and intensely colored. Like most Pomacentrus it is scrappy and territorial in a tank. Wild fish hover in the water column picking plankton and algae.
Good to know
Pomacentrus coelestis reaches about 9 cm and forms loose aggregations over open rubble in the wild. It is a different fish from Allen's damsel, which also carries the neon damsel trade name. The blue coloring comes from light-scattering skin cells rather than pigment.
Did you know
Its electric blue is a structural color, produced by the way its skin bends light rather than by any blue pigment.
Common questions
What size tank does a Neon damselfish need?
A Neon damselfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Neon damselfish need?
A Neon damselfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Neon damselfish get?
An adult Neon damselfish reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Lemon damsel
Pomacentrus moluccensis
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.3 in (8.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Sapphire damsel
Pomacentrus pavo
3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Allen's damsel
Pomacentrus alleni
2.4 in (6 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Three-stripe damsel
Dascyllus aruanus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blue damsel
Chrysiptera cyanea
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Fiji blue devil damsel
Chrysiptera taupou
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)