All fish / Pomacentridae

Caerulean Damselfish

Pomacentrus caeruleus

Also known as caerulean damsel, blue yellowtail damsel, yellowtail blue damsel, blue damsel, cerulean damsel, 蓝黄雀鲷

This is a hardy little damsel with bright electric blue on the body and yellow on the belly, tail and rear fins. It suits beginners and reef tanks because it is tough, colourful and leaves corals alone.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a mixed group in a large tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Indian Ocean: East Africa, Madagascar, Mascarenes to Maldives

Breeding

Pairs lay sticky eggs on a cleaned hard surface, and the male guards them until they hatch. Spawning happens fairly often in captivity, but raising the tiny pelagic larvae is hard and needs live plankton.

Good to know

It grows territorial with age and may bully smaller or more timid fish, so add it last. It is easily mixed up with Chrysiptera parasema and Pomacentrus auriventris, which look very similar.