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.
• 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.
• 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.
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.
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.
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. •
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.
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.
