All fish / Pomacentridae

Yellowtail Dascyllus

Dascyllus flavicaudus

Also known as yellowtail damsel, yellow-tail dascyllus, yellowtail damselfish, yellow tail dascyllus, キイロオスズメダイ, 黄尾宅泥鱼

A sturdy, deep-bodied damselfish that is dark grey to black with a bright yellow tail and clear to pale fins. It is kept for its hardiness and striking contrast, and it gathers around branching corals in the wild.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly, or a group in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, krill, marine flakes and pellets, some algae-based food

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Central and eastern Pacific: French Polynesia, Pitcairn and nearby islands

Breeding

Males prepare a nest site and guard sticky eggs laid on hard surfaces, which hatch after a few days. Spawning happens in aquariums, but rearing the tiny pelagic larvae is difficult.

Good to know

Becomes very territorial with age and may harass smaller or more timid tankmates. It is occasionally confused with the darker Dascyllus marginatus and other plain dascyllus.