General
These are excellent beginner fish, able to withstand a variety of harsh
conditions, and accept food eagerly.
Feeding/Diet
Damsels will usually take to eating just about any food offered. A high
quality, dry, prepared food would be a good standard offering, supplemented by
some frozen foods. Frozen mysis shrimp, plankton, and bloodworms are all good
choices that should be offered once per week.
Compatibility
They are extremely territorial and will take on fish quite a bit larger
than themselves in defending their homes. Keep in mind though, most damsels are
bite-size, so larger predatory fish are best left out of a damsel tank.
Angelfish, basslets, clownfish, hawkfish, pseudochromis, tangs and small wrasses
are all good choices. The Chromis are usually less aggressive, while most of the
Dascyllus are more aggressive.
Damsels are not too demanding of water quality or their habitat. They do want something to hide in to feel secure. Damsels can be housed in tanks as small as 30 gallons.
Best Bets
Almost all of the damsels are hardy species, with the exception of the
Chromis being slightly more difficult. The Chromis species are best purchased
in groups of 6 or more and after your tank has cycled.
Green Chromis
Yellowtail Blue
