Yellowtail Damselfish

Chrysiptera parasema

Electric blue with a lemon tail. The calmest of the damsels, but it still guards its own coral branch from all comers.

A semi-aggressive saltwater fish that grows to 7 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–28 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

7 cm (2.8 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Lagoons of the western Pacific

Good to know

• Territorial. Fights other territorial fish in its zone, especially in small tanks.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Harlequin Shrimp, Mandarin Dragonet, Neon Goby, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Yellow Watchman Goby.

Eaten by: Clown Triggerfish, Lantern Anglerfish, Lionfish, Snowflake Moray.

Fights with: Achilles Tang, Gem Tang, Powder Blue Tang.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Banggai Cardinalfish, Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Neon Goby, Ocellaris Clownfish, Royal Gramma.

Its fry are eaten by: Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue Tang, Emperor Angelfish, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Leafy Seadragon, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Porcupine Puffer, Psychedelic Frogfish and 4 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic common

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.