Whitetail Damselfish
Pomacentrus chrysurus
A golden-tailed damselfish from silty lagoons in the Western Indo-Pacific. It requires a 100L tank with a sandy bottom and rock crevices for hiding and safety.
Wassertemperatur
23 - 28 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Unten und in der Mitte
Erwachsenengröße
9 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 100 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Indo-Pacific, distributed from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia. Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and silty sandy lagoons.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Classified within the family Pomacentridae, subfamily Pomacentrinae. The specific name 'chrysurus' translates to golden tail, though the caudal fin is stark white in most regional populations.
Social Behavior: Territorial species that lives solitarily or in loose, small groups. Remains near shelter and defends a small feeding and breeding territory against intruders.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Adults feature a dark brownish-grey to velvety black body. The most distinctive feature is the stark white caudal fin. Juveniles may show thin blue lines on the head.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Needs a tank of at least 100 liters with a layout of live rock providing various crevices and caves, set above a sandy substrate to simulate its natural habitat.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Feeds on algae and microinvertebrates in nature. Readily accepts flakes, pellets, frozen brine shrimp, mysis, and spirulina-based foods.
Water Quality: Standard marine parameters: temperature 23-28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity 1.020-1.025 with standard filtration and moderate water movement.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Semi-aggressive. Territorial towards other damselfishes and similarly sized fish. Best kept in a community aquarium with robust and active tankmates.
Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous. The male cleans a flat rock or cave ceiling, courts the female to spawn, and defends the adhesive egg clutch until hatching.
Risks and Diseases: Very hardy and highly resilient, making it suitable for beginner marine aquarists. Territorial behavior must be managed by avoiding cramped conditions.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Western Indo-Pacific, distributed from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia. Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and silty sandy lagoons.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeSüd- und SüdostasienOstasienAustralien, Neuguinea und Ozeanien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- This fish is best described as spunky, bold, and highly territorial. Once the Pomacentrus chrysurus claims a specific cave or rock, it will vigorously defend it against fish much larger than itself. Despite its small size, its attitude commands respect from other tank inhabitants. Careful planning of tank mate introduction is required to manage its assertive personality.
- Diät
- Omnivore
- This species is a highly adaptable omnivore that will aggressively consume almost any food offered. Its diet should consist of a varied mix of high-quality marine flakes, pellets, frozen mysis, and brine shrimp. It also benefits from the inclusion of algae-based foods or spirulina to round out its nutritional needs. In a mature reef, it will supplement its diet by picking at microfauna and algae on the rocks.
- Lebenserwartung
- 6-8 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 9 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Solitary
- Due to its territorial nature, it is strongly advised to keep only a single specimen per tank. Housing multiple individuals of the Pomacentrus chrysurus usually results in relentless fighting until only one remains. If a male-female pair naturally forms, they may tolerate each other, but this is difficult to guarantee. Only very large aquariums with massive amounts of rockwork can safely support more than one.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- Feeding the Pomacentrus chrysurus once or twice a day is perfectly sufficient for maintaining its health and vigor. It is an opportunistic feeder that will quickly rush to the surface at feeding time. Care should be taken to ensure that shyer tank mates receive their share, as this fish is very fast and competitive. Overfeeding is rarely necessary due to its rugged metabolism.
- Bioload
- Medium
- The Pomacentrus chrysurus has a relatively low to moderate bioload, making it suitable for a wide range of aquarium sizes. It is incredibly hardy and its waste output is easily managed by standard biological filtration. Even in smaller tanks, it rarely causes significant spikes in nitrates or phosphates. This resilience makes it a popular choice for both new setups and established reef systems.
- Fluss
- Strong
- It is highly adaptable to various flow conditions, thriving in both moderate and strong currents. The Pomacentrus chrysurus will often use areas of moderate flow to forage while retreating to calmer spots within the rockwork to rest. Variable wave patterns help simulate its natural coastal or reef environments. Ensuring there are flow-sheltered zones is just as important as providing strong water movement.
- Sprungrisiko
- No
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- In its natural habitat, the Pomacentrus chrysurus is a demersal spawner, laying adhesive eggs on hard substrates. The male takes on the responsibility of fiercely guarding the nest, becoming highly aggressive toward any approaching animals. Spawning in the home aquarium is somewhat common, though raising the microscopic fry is rarely successful without dedicated rearing tanks. The male's enhanced aggression during this period can cause temporary unrest in the aquarium.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Semi-aggressive
- While generally considered reef-safe, the Pomacentrus chrysurus can exhibit semi-aggressive behavior towards its tank mates. It will not harm corals or mobile invertebrates, but it fiercely protects its chosen territory from other fish. It is best housed with fish of similar or slightly larger size and temperament. Avoid keeping it with overly timid species that could be easily stressed by its territorial displays.
- Tankfüllstand
- Middle/Bottom
- The Pomacentrus chrysurus generally hovers in the lower to middle levels of the water column, staying relatively close to its claimed territory. It uses the rockwork as a central base of operations, darting out to feed or chase away intruders. It rarely swims extensively in the open upper water, preferring the security of nearby crevices. Its strong association with the substrate defines its daily behavior.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 2,6 ± 0,21 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.02692, b = 3.04
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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