All fish / Pomacentridae

Goldfin Dascyllus

Dascyllus auripinnis

Also known as golden domino damsel, yellowfin dascyllus, goldfin damselfish, golden three-spot damsel, dascyllus auripinnis, 金鳍三点白

This close relative of the domino damsel has a black head, a white spot on the forehead and on each side, and a body and fins that turn yellow to gold as it grows. Juveniles shelter among large anemones or branching corals. People keep it because it is tough, bold and colourful.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Single fish, or a group in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: zooplankton, mysis, brine shrimp, marine flakes and pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Central Pacific: Line Islands, Phoenix Islands and nearby islands (Kiribati), Cook Islands

Breeding

Males clean a patch of rock and guard the eggs until they hatch, usually after two to three days. Spawning happens fairly often in aquariums, but rearing the tiny pelagic larvae is hard.

Good to know

Adults become very territorial and will bully smaller or more timid tankmates, so plan the stocking carefully. The trade name shown with this listing looks like a citation fragment rather than a real common name. Young fish can be mistaken for the domino damsel, Dascyllus trimaculatus.