Blacktail Damsel

The blacktail damsel is recognized by the three thick black bars on its white body and a fourth black band covering the tail fin; this band distinguishes it from the humbug damsel (Dascyllus aruanus), whose tail is white. In the wild it lives in groups above branching coral heads. It is extremely hardy; but as it grows it becomes very territorial and aggressive, just like its relative.

• At least 110 liters for a single specimen.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• Provide branching corals or rock cavities for it to retreat into at night.
• It should be the last fish added to the community.

Omnivorous and greedy. Feed twice a day with flakes and granules, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and foods containing algae.

It attacks fish that enter its territory, even if they are larger than itself; shy and slow species quickly come under pressure. In a normal-sized aquarium a single specimen is kept; a group can only be tried in a very large volume, with all of them added at the same time.

Good companions: Tangs, large wrasses, large and fast species able to defend themselves, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Firefish, mandarinfish, neon goby, cardinalfish, other Dascyllus species.