Yellowtail Damsel

Care at a glance

Overview

Hardy and active, spending its day patrolling the mid-water near its chosen rock. It is one of the calmer damsels but can be territorial toward similar-sized fish, so add it after more peaceful tankmates are established. Groups of three or more (odd numbers) in a 4-foot or longer tank help spread out any nipping. Eats meaty frozen foods like mysis and brine along with prepared marine flakes and pellets.

In the wild

Native to the western Pacific around the Philippines, Indonesia and surrounding reefs. It lives over shallow coral and rubble slopes, staying close to branching coral and rockwork it can dart into. In the tank it wants plenty of live rock with caves and crevices so it can claim a small home base and retreat when it feels threatened.

Good to know

A member of the family Pomacentridae. Like other Chrysiptera it is a substrate-spawning demersal egg layer, with the male guarding and fanning the nest. It is one of the least aggressive damsels, which is why it is a common beginner marine fish, but it will still defend a territory against its own kind.

Did you know

The bright electric blue body with a lemon-yellow tail is one of the most recognizable damsel color patterns in the hobby, and unlike its blue devil cousin it earned a reputation as one of the few damsels calm enough to trust in a peaceful community reef.

Related species

• 

  Azure Damsel

  Chrysiptera hemicyanea

  2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Springer's Damsel

  Chrysiptera springeri

  2.8 in (7 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Talbot's Damsel

  Chrysiptera talboti

  2.4 in (6 cm)29 gal (110 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)

• 

  Blue Damsel

  Chrysiptera cyanea

  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)75–81°F (24–27°C)