All fish / Pomacentridae

Speckled Damselfish

Pomacentrus bankanensis

Also known as speckled damsel, bankanensis damsel, bank's damsel, colombo damsel, bluespotted damsel, ニセモンツキスズメダイ, betok laut, 班卡雀鲷

This small damselfish has a dusky brown body covered in fine pale blue speckles, a pale rear end and tail, and a dark spot ringed in blue at the back of the dorsal fin. People keep it because it is tough, cheap and lively, which makes it a handy first fish for a reef or fish-only tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Keep singly unless the tank is large

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean: Christmas Island and Indonesia to Fiji, north to southern Japan and south to Australia

Breeding

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

Good to know

It turns territorial and bullies other fish as it grows, so add it last and do not mix it with timid species. Juveniles can look like other speckled Pomacentrus damsels, so check the tail colour and the dorsal ocellus.