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Four-striped Damsel

Black-tailed Dascyllus Family: Pomacentridae

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Dascyllus melanurus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   The Black-tailed Dascyllus or Four-striped Damsel is a great starter fish for a beginning marine aquarist!

   Besides being handsome, the Black-tailed Dascyllus or Four-striped Damsel are hardy, they will readily eat just about anything, and they are not expensive.

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

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

Maintenance difficulty:
   The Black-tailed Dascyllus or Four-striped 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:
   Black-tailed Dascyllus or Four-striped Damsel adults can grow to 7.5 cm ( 3.0 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 15 gallon aquarium is recommended if this is the only fish to be kept in it.

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

Buy Four-striped Damsel From LiveAquaria.com

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

Availability:
   This fish is readily available.

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Latest Comments
When I first started my saltwater tank I bought one of these and 4 of the yellow tails. They all died but the 4 stripe. I now have a clownfish and a fire shrimp and they all get along great. My pet store didn't mention the 4 stripe to be aggressive but I have seen on here where people have mentioned it. He has been a great little fish. Kasie Sellers 2008-02-12
Do not buy this fish unless you wanna see action ... Like FISH GONE WILD kind of action! This fish has a Mike Tyson/Muhammad Ali complex and will kill anyone in his way. They become especially rabbid after a hearty meal, I guess they're mad at the other fish for eating too! They killed two of my fish, I learned the hard way, dont make the same mistake. Kieffer 2007-09-16
i have 2 and they both killed all but my poisonous fish and my clown fish... and they are still trying to kill the new fish i bought Anonymous 2007-07-25
THIS IS A LOVELY STARTER FISH TO KEEP. I HAVE BEEN DOING MARINE FISH FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS AND THIS FISH IS VERY POPULAR EXCEPT IT HAS A REPUTATION FOR BEING REALLY AGGRESSIVE, SO KEEP IT WITH OTHER TYPES OF DAMSELS. CAMERN 2005-06-03

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Author: David Brough. CFS.