Starck's Damselfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Western Pacific: Taiwan, Philippines, Palau, Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, and New Caledonia. Inhabits deep outer reef slopes (20-60 meters) with rocky crevices.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Pomacentridae. Grows to a maximum length of 7.5 cm. Features a compressed oval body shape.

Social Behavior: Semi-aggressive and territorial. While less aggressive than many damselfishes, it will actively defend its territory, especially from conspecifics.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Vibrant cobalt-blue body with a broad, bright-yellow band running along the snout, forehead, and back to the tail. Genders are indistinguishable.

Aquarium Setup: Minimum 114 liters. Provide rockwork with plenty of caves and crevices to mimic its deep rocky drop-off habitat.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivore. Easily fed. Provide a mix of frozen foods (mysis, brine shrimp), quality marine flakes, and spirulina-based preparations.

Water Quality: Keep temperature at 22-26°C, pH 8.0-8.5, and salinity at 1.020-1.025 SG. Stable reef conditions are ideal.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Safe with corals and mobile invertebrates. May harass small, passive fish or other similarly colored species. Add last to the aquarium.

Aquarium Reproduction: Cave spawner. Eggs are deposited on rock walls and guarded by the male. Larval rearing is difficult due to planktonic stage.

Risks and Diseases: Hardy and disease-resistant. Ensure adequate cave space to prevent territorial fights with other reef-dwellers.