All fish / Pomacentridae

Blueback Damselfish

Pomacentrus simsiang

Also known as blueback damsel, simsiang damsel, blue-back damselfish, yellowtail blue damsel, 胸斑雀鲷

A small, sturdy damselfish with a blue back and head that shades into yellow on the lower body and tail. It lives on sheltered coastal reefs and lagoons, and fishkeepers like it because it is colourful, hardy and cheap.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as a pair in a larger tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Breeding

The male cleans a flat surface, the female lays sticky eggs there, and the male guards them until they hatch a few days later. Spawning sometimes happens in aquariums, but rearing the tiny pelagic larvae is hard and needs live rotifers and similar foods.

Good to know

Like most damsels it gets territorial as it ages and may bully newer or more timid fish, so add it last. It looks very like other blue and yellow Pomacentrus species, for example P. caeruleus and P. coelestis.