Reticulated Damselfish
Dascyllus reticulatus
Small and extremely hardy damselfish (9 cm) from the Indo-Pacific, featuring a greyish body with dark-edged scales creating a reticulated pattern and a dark vertical bar.
Water Temperature
23 - 28 °C
pH Value
8.1 - 8.4
Water type
Marine
Tank level
Middle
Adult size
9 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 100 L
Minimum group
>= 1
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Indo-Pacific, widely distributed from the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. Inhabits sheltered lagoons and seaward reefs, typically associated with branching Pocillopora coral colonies.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Classified under the family Pomacentridae, subfamily Chrominae. Features a deep, laterally compressed body profile characteristic of the genus Dascyllus. Marked by a pointed snout and robust fin spines.
Social Behavior: Highly gregarious as juveniles, sheltering within branching corals. Upon reaching maturity, individuals become highly territorial and aggressive, actively defending their territory against much larger intruders.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Greyish-green to silvery body with dark-edged scales that form a distinct reticulated pattern. A prominent vertical black band runs behind the head. Pelvic fins are black.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Demands a marine aquarium of at least 100 liters with plenty of live rock to provide hiding spots and territorial boundaries to minimize aggression.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. In the wild, it feeds on zooplankton and algae. In captivity, it readily accepts dry pellets, flakes, 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 efficient filtration and moderate water movement.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Aggressive. May harass smaller or passive tankmates. Best housed with robust species of similar size and temperament, or introduced last to the aquarium.
Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous. The male prepares a nesting site on a hard substrate, courts the female, and defends the adhesive eggs aggressively, fanning them until they hatch.
Risks and Diseases: Exceptionally hardy and resilient. Susceptible to common parasites like marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) only under extreme stress or poor water conditions.
Geographic origin and distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific, widely distributed from the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. Inhabits sheltered lagoons and seaward reefs, typically associated with branching Pocillopora coral colonies.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsAfrica and MadagascarEast Asia
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- The temperament of the Dascyllus reticulatus can only be described as belligerent, fearless, and aggressively territorial. It will not hesitate to attack fish three times its size, nor will it shy away from biting the hands of the aquarist. Its extreme hardiness is matched only by its fierce attitude, making it suitable only for predator or aggressive community tanks. It is a magnificent fish, but one that demands profound respect.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- As a voracious omnivore, the Dascyllus reticulatus requires a hearty and varied diet to maintain its health and bulk. It eagerly consumes meaty items like krill, chopped squid, and large mysis, along with robust marine pellets. It is crucial to also provide substantial amounts of vegetable matter, such as dried seaweed or spirulina flakes. Its aggressive feeding response ensures it will rarely miss a meal.
- Life expectancy
- 5-10 years
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- Sex ratio
- Solitary
- It is universally recommended to keep the Dascyllus reticulatus strictly as solitary individuals unless the aquarium is exceptionally large (hundreds of gallons). They are utterly intolerant of conspecifics and will fight to the death if confined together. Even established pairs can suddenly turn on each other in the limited confines of a standard aquarium. Solitary housing is the only reliable way to ensure long-term survival.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- Feeding the Dascyllus reticulatus two substantial meals a day is ideal to fuel its high energy and large mass. Because it competes so aggressively, it will often dominate feeding times, sometimes preventing others from eating. Spreading food across different areas of the tank simultaneously can help ensure other fish get their share. A well-fed fish may also exhibit slightly less territorial aggression.
- Bioload
- Medium
- The Dascyllus reticulatus produces a moderate to high bioload, especially as it grows to its notably large adult size. It is a ravenous eater that generates a substantial amount of organic waste compared to smaller damselfish. A robust protein skimmer and efficient biological filtration are strongly recommended to handle its output. Regular maintenance is necessary to prevent nutrient accumulation in tanks housing this robust fish.
- Flow
- Strong
- It prefers moderate to strong water flow, which helps oxygenate the water and dissipate its considerable waste. The Dascyllus reticulatus is a strong, powerful swimmer that easily navigates turbulent reef environments. Strong currents also provide environmental enrichment, keeping this active fish physically engaged. It will frequently swim in the open areas of the tank where flow is the strongest.
- Jump risk
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- The Dascyllus reticulatus is a demersal spawner that prepares a nesting site on cleared rock or rubble. The male becomes outrageously violent during the spawning period, attacking anything that comes within several feet of the eggs. This includes the aquarist's hands during routine maintenance tasks. While they spawn readily in captivity, the extreme aggression makes them challenging breeding subjects in community setups.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Semi-aggressive
- This is a highly aggressive species that is notoriously difficult to pair with peaceful or timid tank mates. The Dascyllus reticulatus is completely safe with corals and large invertebrates, but it will terrorize small or docile fish. It must be housed with large, equally belligerent species such as triggerfish, large angelfish, or robust tangs. Failure to choose appropriate companions will inevitably lead to the death of weaker fish.
- Tank level
- Middle
- This highly active fish utilizes all levels of the aquarium, boldly roaming from the substrate to the water surface. The Dascyllus reticulatus acts as a dominant presence, constantly patrolling its perceived territory, which often encompasses the entire tank. It does not hide in the rockwork like smaller damsels, preferring to stay out in the open. Its continuous movement makes it a highly visible, though disruptive, centerpiece.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
FishBase v25.04Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.1 ± 0.31 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Generation time
- 2.1 years
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5005
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.02951, b = 2.99
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (25 / 100)
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
