Neon Velvet Damsel
Bluestreak Damselfish

Black/Blue Velvet Damsel ~ Javanese Damsel
Jewel Damsel ~ Bluebanded Damselfish

Family: PomacentridaeNeoglyphidodon oxyodonPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   The Neon Velvet Damsel is such a beautifully colored fish as a juvenile, it has been given the nickname 'Jewel Damsel'!

   Popularly known as the Black Velvet Damsel or the Blue Velvet Damsel Fish, the Neon Velvet Damsels are some of most attractive damselfish as juveniles. They are one of the medium to large sized damsels that can grow to almost 6 inches in length. Strikingly colored when young, it has flashy neon colored electric-blue horizontal stripes dashed across its face and upper body. There is a vertical white or yellow bar that divides the body just in front of the dorsal fin. These markings contrast dramatically with its dark body. As they grow older however, the stripes fade and the fish becomes a grayish blue color overall.

   This bold beauty is called by many names and readily stands out, but of the damselsfish the Neon Velvet Damsel is one of the more demanding. They need top quality water conditions and plenty of room as they can become territorial and will aggressively defend their space. They are generally easy to feed however, and will readily accepting most small foods.They are a suitable addition to reef tanks as they can be kept with invertebrates.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    The Javanese Damsels or Neon Velvet Damsels are found in the Indo-Australian Archipelago including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea). Found at depths between 1 and 4 meters, inhabits protected reef flats of lagoons and inshore reefs. Mainly occurs on current-swept reef flats where it congregates in groups of varying sizes.

Status:    These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Maintenance difficulty:    The Neon Velvet Damsel is among the easiest of all marine fish to keep.

Maintenance:    This fish will readily eat all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods and algae. Finely chopped meaty foods (like brine shrimp) can be fed regularly. It is best to feed small amounts several times a day. In a reef situation they don't really need to be fed very often at all.

Foods:    All kinds. See maintenance above.

Social Behaviors:    Like all damselfish, they can be territorial and aggressive, especially as they get older. Can be kept together and with other larger fish but watch them closely to be sure their aggression doesn't become destructive.

Sex: Sexual differences:    Not Known.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Some of the damselfish have been bred in captivity. See general breeding techniques under Clownfish on the marine breeding page.

Temperature:    No special requirements.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Javanese Damsel or Neon Velvet Damsel adults can grow to 15.0 cm ( 6 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 25 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong    No special requirements.

Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Mike Donajkowski

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    Swims at all levels of the aquarium.

Availability:    This fish is sometimes available and is moderately expensive for a damsel.
Average price: $10.00

Lastest Animal Stories on Neon Velvet Damsel View all 14 Animal Stories on Neon Velvet Damsel Add Your Animal Story

jordan - 2011-11-05 We have a love hate relationship with these fish. We started out our tank with one domino damsel and one 3 striped damsel. We quickly learned who the dominant fish was and that was the domino damsel, always picking and pushing 'pizza' around but hasn't killed him yet. About 3 weeks later we got 'sunny' which is our yellow tailed damsel....I thought the other 2 fish were going to murder poor sunny BUT sunny has survived, barely. Domino and pizza bullied him for a very long time, isolating him to the far corner of the tank, never allowing him to come near the coral,ha! They truly are devil fish! We've had the 3 fish for about 6 months now,the terrorizing behavior between them has settled somewhat however it's still very easy to tick Dominooff. The other thing about our domino damsel, he has grown substantially larger then our 3 stipe and yellow tail. They all eat but clearly Domino is dominant behavior and territorial characteristics has allowed him to grow larger than the other fish. Today we are adding the neon velvet damsel, so far domino and pizza have hasseled him but sunny has left him alone. We'll have to see how the turn out is with this living situation. We really do like our damsels but they truly are little devil fish :) Gytha - 2012-01-22 I'm so glad that the internet allows free info like this! Alex Burleson - 2012-02-12 Damselfish are known for this type of behavior, and it is why many aquartists do not add them to their aquariums. Do note, that if the fish is not allowed to eat, he will die of starvation. Additionally, the fish could die of stress. I wish you the best of luck! Reply

LUIS ALERS - 2009-02-04 I have a aquaripure nitrate remover filter, I paid 300.00 for. I have talked with John, he is the guy you call if you have problems with the filter. We have emailed each other back and forth, the final result of this filter is a repoff, please dont get cheated like i did,the filter doesn't remove anything is all and I lost my 300. 00 luis alers natho - 2010-02-26 Im from Australia, I got one of those Aquaripures and it is the best money ever spent. It worked for me, Ive had it running since setup and never seen any nitrates after it cycled. As I have lot of coral and 19 fish I think you may not have it set up properly. Reply

Steve - 2011-12-13 I currently have one of these with a ocellaris clown fish, a small piccasso trigger, a yellow tang, a medium blue jaw trigger, a powder brown tang, a kole yellow eye tang, a sailfin tang, a naso tang, a blue tang, a juvenile koran angel, a cleaner wrasse, a female bird wrasse, a saddle vallentini puffer, a niger trigger, a small marine betta, and a very small/skinny snowflake eel. They all get along perfectly fine, and yes even the triggers and neon velvet damsel. Charlie Roche - 2011-12-14 You have a full house - Reply

Karen - 2009-06-08 In many ways, this fish will simplify your tank and save you money--because you'll stop buying anything he can destroy or kill. It was one of the first fish I bought when a started a salt tank. He was so small and cute and colorful. "Jaws" is now close to 6". This is definitely a fish with OCD. He can't stand change. If I put a new small pebble anywhere in my large tank, he will knock it off--and will literally try to push it out of the tank by trying to nose it up to the top. Jaws lives with a clownfish, a small yellow tailed damsel, a small black and white striped damsel, and a yellow angel. And, THOSE he is fine with. All is peaceful. But if I tried to add anything else--an anemone, another fish, a coral, etc.--it would be destroyed or killed within five minutes. He's an AWFUL fish . . . but I love him (just like you would an old cranky uncle). Teeny - 2010-11-11 I called mine Jaws too! Well... if it's a girl than its Jawsicca. Reply

Teeny - 2010-11-11 I have this fish and it has eaten one..two...three....four...well a lot of fish. He has been alive for about 4, or maybe 5 years. He has his own, 2 1/2 feet by about 2 feet tank. It still has neon blue stripes and is so territorial that it when I look at him he runs into the cave, as if he is protecting it. He probably has all of his dead corpse and bones from all of the other fish in there. It used to nibble my finger thinking it is food, but he is so smart that he just stares at it, and swims away. I am thinking of trying to train it to swim through hoops, just to see what he does. That guy is still staring at me, right at this moment, begging me to feed him again after I fed him 2 minutes ago. Reply

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