Marginate Dascyllus

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Commonly inhabits shallow coral reefs, frequently shelter-seeking within Stylophora coral colonies.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Pomacentridae. Features a deep, almost disc-like body shape. Reaches a maximum standard length of 6 cm. Fin structure is robust.

Social Behavior: Forms small family groups within branching corals. Displays strong territorial behavior, defending its shelter reef with high determination.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Whitish-grey to golden-yellow body color. Pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins have thick, contrasting black margins. No obvious dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a minimum tank volume of 100 liters with plenty of live rock structures to mimic reef niches.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous diet. Accepts high-quality flakes, pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp, and preparations containing algae.

Water Quality: Water conditions: stable temperature between 22 and 28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity 1.020-1.025 with moderate filtration.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Due to territorial nature, house with robust tankmates. Avoid placing with shy, docile, or delicate fishes.

Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous. Spawns adhesive eggs on rocky surfaces. The male guards the nest diligently and keeps the area aerated.

Risks and Diseases: Highly resilient and forgiving of minor water quality fluctuations. An excellent choice for beginner aquarists starting a marine tank.