Yellowtail Blue Damsel

Blue Yellowtail Damselfish, Goldtail Demoiselle

Chrysiptera parasema

  The Pale-tail Chromis or Yellowtail Blue Damsel displays typical damselfish behavior, very active and a great eater! A good fish for the beginner as it is hardy and inexpensive.

   This is a young specimen of the Blue Yellowtail Damselfish, Goldtail Demoiselle or Yellowtail Blue Damsel, about 1 inch long. Generally juveniles like this will be available from a marine fish store. As they mature, their tails loose the yellow and become white and the bright blues become a more bluish grey.

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

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    Blue Yellowtail Damselfish, Goldtail Demoiselle or Yellowtail Blue Damsel are found throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Maintenance difficulty:    The Blue Yellowtail Damselfish, Goldtail Demoiselle or Yellowtail Blue 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:    Blue Yellowtail Damselfish, Goldtail Demoiselle or Yellowtail Blue Damsel adults can grow to 10 cm ( 4.0 inches) in the wild! Apparently they only get about half that size in captivity.

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 20 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.

Lastest Animal Stories on Yellowtail Blue Damsel View all 19 Animal Stories on Yellowtail Blue Damsel Add Your Animal Story

Diane - 2009-10-29 My husband and I are new at the saltwater. After we got our tank set and waited till all was right w/the salt and such, we bought two of these lovely fish. However, after we put them in, we can't seem to find them anymore, we are confused as there are no other fish in the tank. Hope to see them soon. carly - 2010-09-19 Um the last time I had one of these fish it jumped right out of the tank and we found it dried out on the floor =( but they could just be hiding too. Bill - 2012-07-24 If they are small and you have an over flow on your thank they might have fallen into the overflow so you might have to fish them out if they are still alive. If the tank is new and rocks were not set up sturdy enough a rock might have fallen on one of them. Both of these have happened to me. My experience with damsels is that they usually don't hide. Especially if they are the only fish in the tank! Most of them are fearless. Every time I have ever gotten more than one damsel, they have killed their conspecifics until there was only one left. But those are the blue devil damsels. If one is chasing the other it would be possible that one just jumps out of the tank too, so I would look around the tank also Jeremy Roche - 2012-07-25 May have jump, got sucked into filter, check sump.  Maybe try sifting the sand a bit. Reply

Ryan - 2009-06-29 Damsels are good fish for the cycle process and are cute while they are young or juvenile. When they age, like people, they lose their vibrance and become a little more cranky. I house 2 of them now, a yellowtail and a velvet in a 55 gallon reef tank. I was going to trade or sell the damsels after the cycle process was completed but I noticed them eating algae off the rocks in between the zoas and the paly's that the turbo snails can't get at so I am thinking now that I may keep them around. Typically they hate anything new in their space but mine seem oddly docile...they don't attack other fish, even new tank mates. They do go after the snails and my hermit crabs but I can't tell if it is an aggressive lunge or if they are eating off the shells. It appears as though they are just picking stuff off the shells. Conserve the reefs..propagate your corals. Reply

Danny - 2006-02-05 Just to update... I added a new few new fish and the little yellow tail damsel went at them like a parana while ignoring pre-existing fish. I quickly removed the yellow tail from the tank and moved around the rocks. Then put the yellow tail back in thinking he was in a new tank. Since he was last in once again, no problem. I recommend adding yellow tails last or to remove and re-arrange, then put back in after new fish. Mine leaves pre-existing fish alone. Reply

tav - 2008-11-10 Hi I'm new to this but am looking for a bit of help and support. I have two clowns, one lyretail anthias, and plenty of cleaners. Just added two little yellow tail's, and have seen most of the traits others have mentioned so far. Only two thing I'd appreciate help with. Hope it's pecking order, but it's the lyretail anthias that's bullying the yellow tails? 2nd: are these known to get White spot, out of my depth with this, one just has little White speck near his rear fin? Any help? Reply

Kate - 2009-02-18 I've had my yellow tail damsel for almost a year now, it was the first fish in my tank. I've had fish come and go in my tank due to various reasons, but my yellow tail has held on thick and thin and is by far the hardiest fish I've ever had. However, he is aggressive with new fish, though only shortly after he "tells them he's boss". My damsel is cautious and loves swimming in and out of my rock. He is getting "lighter" in color as he gets older. This is a great fish starting out and isn't that aggressive. Reply

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