Animal World > Marine Fish > Anemonefish - Damsels

   Damsels are very colorful, but are also very hardy and adapt easily to captivity.

  Because they are so hardy and they are inexpensive, damselfish are often used to "break-in" new aquariums to establish the nitrification cycle. It takes about one fish for every 10 gallons of water to do this.

   Damsels are actually in the same family as clownfish but usually the two are separated into anemonefish (clownfish), and damselfish. Some damsels live in a comensal relationship with anemones as do the clownfish. This means they live together, with both the damsel and the anemone benefiting from each others' company. Damsels can be kept in an aquarium with or without an anemone but if you try to keep an anemone you should make sure and meet its special needs.

Click on the Genus types, or the small images below,
to access each type of Damselfish:

   Most of the fish in the family Pomacentridae can become territorial (aggressive) when they get older. Among the exceptions to this are the Green Chromis, the Blue reef chromis, and the skunk clown. Damselfish are known to live about 10 years in captivity and 20 years in their natural habitats.

More about Damsels:
Care & Feeding
and
Anemone Hosts

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