Striped Damsel, Cloudy Damsel, Indian Dascyllus, Blue-spotted Dascyllus, Dascyllus carneus

In the ocean, young species of Dascyllus will often live in a comensal relationship with anemones. As they mature, however, they will abandon the anemone and move to corals. In an aquarium each will want a rock cave or a coral of their own.

This is a very common damselfish that is hardy, inexpensive and readily available from a marine fish store. A good fish for the beginning marine aquarium enthusiast!

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

Dream Aquarium

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Geographic Distribution Dascyllus carneus


Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Pomacentridae
Data provided by FishBase.org

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
Found throughout the Indo-Pacific.

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

Maintenance difficulty:
This fish, the Striped Damsel, Cloudy Damsel, Indian Dascyllus, or Blue-spotted Dascyllus, 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:
Striped Damsel, Cloudy Damsel, Indian Dascyllus, or Blue-spotted Dascyllus adults can grow to 5 cm ( 2.0 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:
A minimum 10 gallon aquarium is recommended if this is the only fish to be kept in it.

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

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

Availability:
This fish is readily available.

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Latest Comments

I HAD one of these fish along with a porcupine puffer, a key hole angle, domino damsel, a blue devil, and a 4 striped damsel, and this fish picked on all of them yes even the porcupine puffer! But any way this fish is highly aggresive. As i said i had one until one day my porcupine got tired of it and ate it. I know devastating, but in the back of my mined i was kind of glad. It could never terrorize again!

kristen
2006-04-03

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