Saltwater Aquarium Damsels

Damsels are pretty fish that are easy to raise, and some live in association with anemones. They adapt well to captivity and often accept artificial food (though live prey, mussels, and ground shrimps are clear favorites); they lay eggs quite easily. With these characteristics in mind, and not forgetting their modest price, damsels are recommended for aquarists making their first venture into sea water.

Damsels For Beginners
Novices are advised to start with the "blue damsels" group. Chromis caerulea (the blue-green damsel) is active and lives in groups, sometimes dominated by the males. It accepts artificial food. Chrysiptera parasema (azure damsel, syn. Glyphidodontops hemicyaneus) is a robust species which lays eggs in captivity. The female can sometimes lay more than 200 eggs, and is then ejected from the nest by the male, which takes on the task of guarding it. Hatching occurs after 1 week. This fish will accept commercial food.

Clarification
Occasional variations in color and name changes can lead to confusions in this group, especially in the species that are predominantly blue. The latter includes a blue-green damsel, while the blue damsels can present yellow coloring on the tail and belly, although this varies from one specimen to another. They are all easy to acclimatize and feed, and they reproduce in captivity - all these factors endear them to beginners.

The second group of damsels is distinguished by its vertical black bands (genus Dascyllus', 6 or 7 species are currently imported).
The third group covers the Abudefduf genus - including the species sometimes known as "devils" - which are less common in aquariums.

Electric Blue Damsel
(Pomacentrus Coelestis)
The electric blue damsel can live in groups in a large tank. In a smaller aquarium it is wise to keep only a single specimen. Size: 8 cm.

Sergeant-Major Damsel (Abudefduf Saxatilis)
This is more aggressive than the other damsels. The sergeant-major can live to an age of 5 years or more in captivity. It eats mainly brine shrimps, mussels, and chopped shrimps. Size: 15-17 cm.

Blue Damsel (Glyphidodontops Cyaneus)
Like the other species known as damsels, this is one of the least expensive of aquarium marine fishes. The blue damsel (syn. Chrysiptera cyanea) is territorial and can sometimes be aggressive. It accepts commercial foods. Size: 8 cm.

Young Domino Damsel (Dascyllus Trimaculatus)
The young domino damsels live in groups, while the adults gradually isolate themselves. The white spots disappear in older fishes. Their reproduction is easy; the male watches over the eggs. Size: 14 cm.

Three-Stripe Damsel (Dascyllus Aruanus)
The three-stripe damsel does not exceed 8 cm in length as an adult and prefers to live in isolation; the young live in groups. A closely related species, D. melanurus (black-tailed damsel), is distinguished by a vertical black band on the tip of the caudal fin.

Saltwater Introduction

Cover all we need to know about saltwater, so we can keep marine fish.

Aquarium Supply

Lot of things we should prepare to start saltwater aquarium!

Aquarium Setup

Steps to be taken before the aquarium ready to receive
fish and operate.

Marine Fish

Detail about saltwater fish species. For beginner also expert.

Invertebrates

They difficult to keep, although there are some suitable for hobbyist.

Plants

There’s only a few of them, but the results can often be highly attractive.