Springer Damsel

The Springer damsel is a small Chrysiptera species whose entire body is bright electric blue, distinguished by a thin black line running from the snout over the eye and along the base of the dorsal fin. Its tail is transparent; this feature separates it from the yellowtail blue damsel (Chrysiptera parasema), which has a yellow tail, and from the azure damsel, which has a yellow belly.

It reaches about 5.5 cm and is one of the smallest damselfish. It is hardy, accepts any food and is tolerant of water parameters. Its temperament is noticeably milder than that of tough species such as the blue damsel (Chrysiptera cyanea); still, it is a damsel and defends its own corner.

It lives in the Philippines and eastern Indonesia, in coral-rich parts of sheltered lagoons and nearshore reefs, at depths of 4–30 meters. It forms groups around low Acropora clusters above sandy bottoms and retreats among the coral branches when in danger. It feeds on plankton in the water column and small organisms on the rocks.

• Volume: At least 75 liters for a single specimen; 300 liters or more for a group.
• Water: Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Layout: Branching corals or rock crevices where it can hide; open swimming space at the front.
• Reef compatibility: Reef-safe; it leaves corals, shrimp and snails alone.
• Order of addition: Adding it after shyer fish have settled in reduces territorial fights.

Omnivorous. Fine granules or flakes should be the staple; add frozen mysis, brine shrimp and copepods. Foods containing algae or spirulina keep the blue color bright. Offer small amounts 2–3 times a day.

Active and curious; it patrols around the coral or rocky corner it has chosen. It is territorial towards its own kind and similar-looking blue damsels; it mostly leaves differently shaped fish alone. Its aggression increases in a small aquarium.

Good companions: Clownfish, gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, dwarf angelfish, tangs, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Tough damselfish such as the blue damsel and Fiji damsel, dottybacks, hawkfish and predators that can fit it in their mouths.

Kept singly in small and medium-sized aquariums. In a very large aquarium a group of 5–6 juveniles can be added at the same time; in that case aggression is spread within the group. Adding individuals one by one later leads to fighting.

It forms pairs during the breeding season. The female lays her sticky eggs on a clean surface at the base of a rock or coral; the male guards and fans the eggs. The eggs hatch within a few days. Because the fry are planktonic, raising them in the aquarium requires a rotifer culture and a separate fry container; it is rarely achieved in a home aquarium.

• A hardy species; quarantine a new specimen for 2–4 weeks.
• Marine white spot and velvet: Watch its feeding and breathing in quarantine.
• Prolonged chasing and stress lead to color fading.

There is no reliable external difference. During the breeding season the female's belly becomes fuller; the individual that cleans and guards the spawning site is the male.