Caerulean Damselfish - Medium

Caerulean Damselfish

The Caerulean Damselfish is an eye-catching electric blue color. The blue covers the majority of its body, pectoral fins, and the front 2 thirds of its dorsal fin. This contrasts beautifully with the yellow on its remaining fins and the bottom and rear of its body.

Carulean Damsels, are oviparous and form distinct pairs for mating. During the courtship period, the male and female will clear a suitable area for a nest. They then perform a mating dance. Males may turn a darker shade of blue or displaying white blotches. Females spawn at dawn, with the eggs sticking to the substrate in the nest. It is the males' role to keep the eggs aired and to protect them.

They are found across the Western Indian Ocean, from East Africa to the Maldives. Their natural habitat is on lagoons and outer reef slopes, around rubble or coral bases. Usually staying in pairs or small schools to a depth of 20 meters.

Tank Recommendations for your Caerulean Damselfish

Caerulean Damselfish needs a tank with a capacity of at least 30 gallons (113.5 liters).

They can be housed in reef or fish-only aquariums. Be sure to include enough live rock in your tank, for hiding and shelter. Caerulean Damselfish are jumpers, so it is advised to have a secure cover over a tank.

It is often a good idea to organize live rock, so the tank has a variety of different areas. This can help diffuse the territorial nature of this species.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Caerulean Damselfish semi-aggressive. They do have a reputation for being territorial and chasing other fish. This occurs more as they mature, it is possible to keep juveniles in small groups.

Usually Compatible

Suitable tank mates for Caerulian Damsels include Blennies, Clownfish, Dragonets, Gobies, and Pseudochromis.

Sometime Compatible

Monitoring should occur with some invertebrates and conspecifics. Caution is also advised with Squirrelfish, Grunts/Sweetlips, and Batfish. It is possible to keep 5-7 juveniles in a group, but mature adults can show aggression to conspecifics.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid larger predators such as Eels, Groupers, Lions/Scorpionfish, and Sharks/Rays. Seahorses and Pipefish are too delicate to cohabit.

Feeding your Caerulean Damselfish

Caerulean Damselfish are omnivores. They will consume the majority of typical aquarium food. A suitable diet needs food like vitamin-enriched mysis and brine shrimp. Other meat options include chopped squid, fish, clams, and shrimp. They will also eat spirulina-based preparations, food flakes, and pellets. Feeding should occur two times per day.