Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Chrysiptera

Chrysiptera rex

(Snyder, 1909)

King Damselfish, Pink Demoiselle

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Eastern Indian Ocean to the Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 3 inches (7 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal to outer reef crests at depths between 3 to about 70 feet (1 – 20 m) and mainly feeds on algae, along with some benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Quite attractive and ocassionally available in the trade, where its coloration depends upon area of collection. Those coming from the Palau area have a whitish body with a bluish head, while those collected in other locations often have a greyish head with the remaing body and fins somewhat yellowish, pinkish orange.

Best maintained in aquariums having hiding places, as this docile species is sometimes picked on by slightly more aggressive fishes.

As to diet, a meaty diet, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina, and Nori should also be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Labroidei

    Family: Pomacentridae

    Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

    Genus: Chrysiptera

FYI: May annoy smaller fishes.

A single male and female can be kept in small aquariums, while a male and several females are best maintained in larger aquariums, e.g., 50+ gallons.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Chrysiptera rex (King Damselfish, Pink Demoiselle)
Photo © David Cook
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