All fish / Pomacentridae

Goldbelly Damselfish

Pomacentrus auriventris

Also known as goldbelly damsel, gold belly damsel, yellow belly damsel, yellowbelly damselfish, blue and gold damsel, goldbelly blue damsel, auriventris damsel, ソラスズメダイ, betok laut, 金腹雀鲷, 黄腹雀鲷

A small, bright damselfish with an electric blue head and back and a yellow belly and tail. It is hardy, cheap and colourful, so it is often chosen for new reef or fish-only tanks and is considered reef safe with corals and invertebrates.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly or a small group in a larger tank

Diet

Omnivore: mysis and brine shrimp, marine pellets and flakes, algae-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia to northern Australia and Micronesia

Breeding

Pairs lay sticky eggs on a cleaned hard surface and the male guards them until they hatch in a few days. Spawning happens in aquariums, but rearing the tiny planktonic larvae is difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Becomes territorial with age, especially towards other blue damsels, so add it last and avoid very timid tankmates. Easily confused with the similar Pomacentrus coelestis and Chrysiptera hemicyanea.