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Three-Stripe Damsel

Humbug Dascyllus ~ White-tailed Damselfish Family: Pomacentridae

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Dascyllus aruanus Photo © 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

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.

Buy Three-Stripe 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
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. Suzy 2009-04-30
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’t show any signs of this kind of behavior when I bought him. He has never shown any kind of aggression, or interest for that matter, towards the neon blue damsel he was introduced into the tank with. It’s just the two damsels for now. Hopefully when the clownfish is brought in he will become a little more social. Jacqueline 2009-02-09
my step father has a marine tank and did have black and white damsel but he had to get rid of it because of how nasty it is. I have a tropical freshwater tank and i have slowly placed him in there. He has become immune to the freshwater, i have heard they can be immune to freshwater so i thought i would try it and he is settling in very well. Matt 2007-07-08
I have had mine for a year now and mine are agressive towards me when my hands in the tank. I have 2 of them, I also have in my tank a Maroon Clown, Blue Devil, Neon Gobie(just lost the other 1), a regular shrimp goby, and a reef lobster. It seems to leave them all alone. Just once in awhile they'll chase the devil, but over all they are only agressive when my hand is in the tank. If i did'nt have the 2 of them for awhile, they'ld be gone, but im hoping somehow they might breed. Street Diesel 2007-02-21
Little tough guy likes to bite me if my hand ever enters the tank and always kicks my sand around. but i've had him so long i can't get rid of him. definetly not afraid of anything, used to smack my snowflake eel with his tail all the time. Cool looking but definitely aggressive fish Tim Arnett 2006-02-19

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Author: David Brough. CFS.