Male Blue Devil Damselfish MED

Male Blue Devil Damselfish

The Male Blue Devil Damselfish has an orange tail. They are sometimes referred to as Orangetail Blue Damselfish, but these are the same species.

These Damsels have the ability to change their color to almost black when scared. This helps them to hide in holes and crevices between coral. Once the threat has passed then they will change their color back to their natural bright blue.

They are only small fish being less than 3.5 inches long.

The Blue Damselfish lives on reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region in the wild.

Tank Recommendations for the Blue Devil Damselfish

You can keep these fish either on their own or as a mated pair in a 30-gallon tank. If you are keeping them with other fish then you should keep them in a tank of 55 gallons or larger.

These fish are active and so ensure that there is space for them to swim too.

These Damsels spend most of their time in the mid to lower areas of the tank.

They like to dart in and out of the corals and crevices between rocks and other tank features. They need plenty of hiding places especially if you are keeping some larger aggressive fish with them

They are reef safe, live rock with algae growth also gives them something to eat between feeds.

Suitable Tank Buddies

These are aggressive fish and so you should be careful when selecting tank mates. Generally larger tank mates work best so long as they’re not too big and able to eat the Damselfish.

Usually Compatible

In a large enough tank these male Blue Devil Damselfish are fine to keep with many female Blue Devil Damselfish.

You can also mix them in with Dottybacks, Tangs, Large Angelfish, Large Wrasses, 6 Line and 8 Line Wrasses. They are also fine with crabs, snails and live corals.

Sometime Compatible

Gobies, Dartfish, Fairy Wrasses and the more aggressive Clownfish and Dwarf Angelfish should be fine in tanks over 100 gallons. In smaller tanks, the Blue Devil’s may harass them.

Rarely Compatible

As with all smaller species, the Blue Devil Damselfish shouldn’t be in a tank with any predatory fish that can eat them. So Lionfish, Scorpionfish, Sharks or Groupers will all eat them. Also, these guys are way too aggressive to keep with Seahorses, Pipefish or Mandarinfish.

Feeding Your Blue Devil Damselfish

Blue Devil Damselfish are omnivores and will eat algae growing in the tank, shredded fish, flake and pellet foods. They also enjoy live foods like small crustaceans, brine and cherry shrimps. Soak pellet foods before feeding them to the fish to ensure they don’t have air trapped in them.

Feed these fish 2 or 3 smaller meals a day. This also helps to reduce their aggression levels if they don’t feel they have to guard their territories food resources.