Sapphire Damselfish
Pomacentrus pavo
This iridescent damselfish from the tropical Indo-Pacific thrives in 100L setups. Abundant live rock and hiding spots are vital to reduce territorial aggression.
Température de l’eau
23 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
8,5 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 100 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Indo-Pacific, widely distributed from East Africa and the Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia. Settles in sheltered lagoons and patch reefs.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Classified under the family Pomacentridae, subfamily Pomacentrinae. The species name 'pavo' reflects its resemblance to the iridescent colors of a peacock's feathers.
Social Behavior: Territorial yet moderately social. Often found in small, loose groups around branching coral heads. Males establish distinct territories and defend them from rivals.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Brilliant metallic sapphire-blue to neon-blue overall color. Individual scales are marked with a small dark vertical spot. A small black spot is located above the gill cover.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Requires an aquarium of at least 100 liters with plenty of live rock arranged to form numerous crevices, tunnels, and secure hiding spots to reduce territorial tension.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Feeds on zooplankton and benthic algae in the wild. Accepts high-quality 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 efficient filtration and moderate water movement.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Semi-aggressive. Generally less aggressive than other blue damselfishes. May exhibit territorial behavior toward conspecifics or similar-looking species in small tanks.
Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous. The male prepares and cleans a nesting cavity, courts the female to spawn, and subsequently guards the adhesive eggs until hatching.
Risks and Diseases: Very hardy and highly disease-resistant. An excellent choice for beginners. The primary concern is potential aggression from larger predatory tankmates.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Tropical Indo-Pacific, widely distributed from East Africa and the Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia. Settles in sheltered lagoons and patch reefs.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAfrique et MadagascarAsie de l'EstAustralie, Nouvelle-Guinée et Océanie
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Territorial
- This fish is best described as spunky, bold, and highly territorial. Once the Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Régime alimentaire
- 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.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-15 years
- Taille adulte
- 8.5 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Solitary
- Due to its territorial nature, it is strongly advised to keep only a single specimen per tank. Housing multiple individuals of the Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Feeding the Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Charge biologique
- Medium
- The Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Courant
- Moderate
- It is highly adaptable to various flow conditions, thriving in both moderate and strong currents. The Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- In its natural habitat, the Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Semi-aggressive
- While generally considered reef-safe, the Pomacentrus pavo 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.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- The Pomacentrus pavo 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.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3 ± 0,24 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.02089, b = 2.93
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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