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Three-Stripe Damsel

Humbug Dascyllus ~ White-tailed Damselfish

Family: PomacentridaeDascyllus aruanusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   Here is another damselfish with many common names! The Three-Stripe Damsel, Humbug Dascyllus, and the White-tailed Damselfish are just the ones we could find!

   These make great beginner fish for an aquarium, but be sure that as they grow each one has it's own rock cave or a coral. This is because young species of Dascyllus in the ocean will often live in a comensal relationship with anemones. As they mature, however, they will abandon the anemone and move to corals.

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

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    Three-Stripe Damsel, Humbug Dascyllus, or White-tailed Damselfish are found all over the Indo-West Pacific from eastern Africa and the Red Sea to the central and western Pacific as far north as southern Japan and south to Tuamotu islands. Can be found at depths up to 12 meters. Associated with branching corals on inshore and lagoon reefs.

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

Maintenance difficulty:    The Three-Stripe Damsel, Humbug Dascyllus, or White-tailed Damselfish are generally among the easiest 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).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.

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 in the breeding Clownfish page.

Temperature:    No special requirements.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Three-Stripe Damsel, Humbug Dascyllus, or White-tailed Damselfish adults can grow to 6.5 cm.

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.

Author: David Brough. CFS.

• Dascyllus aruanus : $4.99
• Dascyllus aruanus : $4.99

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Lastest Comments on Three Stiped Damsel View all 10 comments on Three Stiped Damsel Add Your Comment

roxy - 2012-05-10 yea we need help what kind of food do these fish eat were in 8th grade doing a project lol!!!! Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-10 In the tank setting these fish will eat flake but will take a variety of things. If you click on the fish and go under feeding, it is all there. Reply

Wendy - 2012-02-18 I have two of these fish. One is a bit bigger than the other. The big one is very aggressive. If I could catch it I would probably get rid of it. I can not put any new fish in the tank without it chasing them and making them hide all the time. My clown fish seems to hold its own against the bully fish. My dragon-net guy that hangs out on the bottom doesn't seem to get picked on either. Reply

Indunil - 2010-05-25 I have one three striped Damsel along with 1 Devil Blue, 1 Domino and 3 Clown fishes. Before I bring my clown fish damsels were aggressive to each other but when I put 3 clown fishes they not seems to be aggressive to each other. Sometime I can see Domino is chasing other 2 but in front of clown fishes they behave as gentlemen Reply

vic hillier - 2010-04-24 I have a breeding pair of these, and find they are very aggressive towards the smaller fish. They always lay their eggs on the glass front of my aquarium, but also push all the live sand between their live rock and the egg laying area away into large piles. I notice that they chirp loudly when threatened by other tank mates. Reply

Suzy - 2009-04-30 I have a breeding pair of three stripes and I am finding them to be extremely durable. I have a variety of different snails and they seem to do well with all 7 of them. I am pretty impressed with my little pair. As most have stated they are aggressive when you place your hand in the tank. Mine haven't tried to bite me, they more less swim and hide. Mine are still fairly young so I am awaiting for them to lay some eggs. The male seem to turn darker colors when anything gets near the rock cave. I would suggest anyone starting out to get damsels or if you have have less timid critters such as snails, I am still slowly adding to my aquarium. They are a great investment I believe. Reply

Jacqueline - 2009-02-09 I bought my first black and white damsel three weeks ago. When frightened his white stripes turn black and he refuses to show any signs of life. He tends to hide in the closest plant and goes into shock when he senses any sudden movement or drastic light change. He definitely didn Reply

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