All fish / Pomacentridae

Talbot's Damselfish

Chrysiptera talboti

Also known as talbot's damsel, talbot damselfish, talboti damsel, talbots damsel, yellow head damsel, タルボットダムセル, 塔氏刻齿雀鲷, 黄头雀

A small damselfish with a pale lilac to whitish body, a yellow head and front, and a black spot on the soft dorsal fin. It is one of the gentlest damsels, which makes it a good colourful choice for reef tanks and community marine systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as a pair or small group in a larger tank

Diet

Omnivore: zooplankton such as mysis and brine shrimp, quality flakes and pellets, some algae-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on a cleaned hard surface and the male guards them until they hatch after a few days. Spawning happens fairly often in captivity, but raising the tiny pelagic larvae needs rotifers and copepods and is quite hard.

Good to know

It is milder than most damsels but can still defend a territory against similar small fish, so add it last or alongside peaceful tankmates. Do not confuse it with the more aggressive yellowtail and azure damsels.