Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 3.9in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Indo-west Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Rarely aggressive toward other anemonefishes, with the possible exception of closely related species.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Angels, Surgeonfish, Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped table shrimp, as well as frozen preparations for herbivores. Tank Size For Adult: 20gal (76l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. A pretty and much-liked species that is more easily intimidated by boisterous tankmates than most of the anemonefishes. In groups , these fish can be aggressive amongst themselves and need plenty of room and hiding places. Lives in several anemone species in the wild (including Heteractis crispa, Macrodactyla doreensis, and Stichodactyla gigantea), but seems to prefer the Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica). In captivity, will thrive and spawn without a host.
Scientific Name: Amphiprion polymnus Common Names: Saddleback Anemonefish (Saddleback Clownfish)
Care Level: Intermediate Adult Size: 5.1in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Usually inoffensive and can be kept in small groups.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Angels, Surgeonfish, Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped table shrimp, as well as frozen preparations for herbivores. Tank Size For Adult: 30gal (114l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. Somewhat rare in the aquarium trade, this species varies greatly in its ability to acclimate when imported from the wild. Some settle quickly and eat almost anything; others sulk in the corners and refuse food. The latter usually become infected with the common Anemonefish parasites and quickly perish. Captive-bred specimens, when available, are a much more reliable choice. Most likely to adopt Haddon’s Sea Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni) in the aquarium; may do better if an anemone is present. On the reef, a pair and juveniles of varying sizes are typically found in a single anemone.
Scientific Name: Amphiprion sandaracinos Common Names: Orange Skunk Anemonefish
Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 5.5in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Western Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Larger females can be very aggressive toward conspecifics or closely related species.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Angels, Surgeonfish, Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped table shrimp, as well as frozen preparations for herbivores. Tank Size For Adult: 30gal (114l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. A beautiful Anemonefish that does well in smaller aquariums. Wild-caught specimens not uncommonly suffer from clownfish disease (Brookynella hostilis), most easily recognised by copious slime that sloughs off the fish’s body. Choose captive-bred specimens when possible. Best kept in pairs with a host sea anemone. Usually inhabits Merten’s Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla mertensii) and the Leathery Sea Anemone (Heteractis crispa) in the wild, but will acclimate to others in captivity. May behave aggressively toward similar species (e.g. A. perideraion).
Temperament/Behaviour: A dominant individual may occasionally bicker with subordinate members, but this is not usually a problem if a groups is large enough..
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Angels, Surgeonfish,
Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations.
Tank Size For Adult: 55gal (208l)
Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. The chromises are bright, active fishes that can, and should be kept in groups in the aquarium. A shoal of six or more fish makes an interesting display. Lone individuals tend to be easily harassed by tankmates and often fail to thrive. Chromises tend to spend their time in the upper part of the water column, often inciting reclusive species to spend more time in the open. This species is very similar to, and often sold as, the Blue Green Chromis (Chromis viridis), but the Blackaxil has black at the inner bases of its pectoral fins. Offer enriched foods to prevent colour loss.
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera cyanea Common Names: Blue Damselfish (Blue devil)
Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 3.1in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Western Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: May pick on more-peaceful tankmates, such as cardinalfishes, gobies, firefishes, blennies etc.
Compatible Tank mates: Angels, Surgeonfish, Triggers, eels, Butterflyfishes. Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations. Tank Size For Adult: 30gal (114l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium will graze on some algae. This little electric-blue fish has probably attracted more hobbyists to marine aquariums than any other fish. It is colourful, inexpensive, and hardy, but can also become aggressive as it matures, especially larger males. A male and female can be kept in a smaller tank, while a group can be kept in a medium-sized aquarium aquascaped with plenty of nooks and crannies for hiding. Best to keep only one male per tank, unless housed in a large aquarium. Will readily spawn in captivity. Males from some Indonesian waters have a blue tail with a dark border; in other geographic areas the tail is bright orange. The female’s tail is clear.
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera parasema Common Names: Yellowtail Blue Damselfish (Yellowtail Demoiselle)
Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 2.8in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Western Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Should not be kept with highly aggressive species, including more=pugnacious damselfishes.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Angels, Surgeonfish, Butterflyfishes. Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations. Tank Size For Adult: 20 gal (76l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. This little beauty is one of the less-aggressive members of this genus and a classic choice for beginning aquarists. Can be kept in small groups in a medium-sized tank with plenty of hiding places. A male-female pair can be kept in a smaller tank and will often spawn. This damsel feeds on zooplankton and algae. Will ignore invertebrate tankmates and will pick at filamentous algal growths.
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera talboti Common Names: Talbot’s Demoiselle
Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 2.4in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Indo-Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Can be kept with less-aggressive fishes in a medium to large tank.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Angels, Surgeonfish, Butterflyfishes. Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations. Tank Size For Adult: 20 gal (76l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. This is an attractive little fish, tinged with canary yellow colours, and one of the more mild-mannered damsels. Keep one specimen per tank, unless the aquarium is large, or a pair is obtained or created by raising juveniles together. Provide it with plenty of shelter sites, especially if housed with more-aggressive fishes.
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera taupou Common Names: South Seas Devil Damselfish (Fiji Blue Devil)
Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 2.4in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: South Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Keep only one per tank, unless a known pair is obtained, and do not place with docile species.
Compatible Tank mates: Larger Dottybacks, angelfishes, triggerfishes, puffers. Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations. Tank Size For Adult: 20 gal (76l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium. The jewel-like colours of this species are matched only by its intense aggressiveness. It will pick on other damselfishes unless they match it in belligerence. The best setting for this fish is in a moderately aggressive community tank. Mature males have a blue spinous dorsal fin; in mature females, it is yellow.
Common Names: Humbug Dascyllus (Humbug Damsel, Striped Damslefish)
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 3.1
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3
Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026
Origin/Habitat: Indo-Pacific
Temperament/Behaviour: As adults they will fight, unless they are a male-female pair. Will also fight other damselfishes and will pick on docile tankmates.
Compatible Tank mates: Larger Dottybacks, angelfishes, triggerfishes, puffers, Eels.
Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations.
Tank Size For Adult: 20 gal (76l)
Narrative: Will not harm sessile invertebrate tankmates and will eat some algae. Larger specimens may eat small crustaceans just after molting. Little humbugs are cute as juveniles and hardy enough to be used in starting new aquariums (although more favourable methods are available), but they grow into real terrors in the community tank. Young specimens can be kept in groups. Best kept in a moderately aggressive community tank. Provide suitable hiding places, especially for juveniles.
Scientific Name: Dascyllus trimaculatus Common Names: Threespot Dascyllus (Domino Damselfish)
Care Level: Easy Adult Size: 5.5in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Indo-Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Adults can be kept in male-female pairs or singly. House in a moderately aggressive community tank.
Compatible Tank mates: Larger Dottybacks, angelfishes, triggerfishes, puffers. Diet: Varied diet including meaty food items such as frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, as well as herbivore flakes and frozen preparations. Tank Size For Adult: 55gal (208l) Narrative: Ideal for the reef aquarium; will not harm any invertebrate tankmates and will eat some algae. A popular fish for conditioning new aquariums; it is able to tolerate water conditions that will kill other species, (although other more favourable cycling procedures are preferred). Juveniles are striking in colour, and a group makes an interesting display. Unfortunately they grow to become a threat to each other and to tankmates that are less aggressive or similar in size. In the wild, juveniles will shelter in sea anemones.
