Dascyllus

Dascyllus albisella

Gill, 1862

Hawaiian Threespot Dascyllus

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Central Pacific Ocean: Hawaiian and Johnston Islands.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral rich lagoons, reef faces and fore-reef slopes at depths between 3 to about 250 feet (1 – 75 m) and mainly feeds on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs and algae.

General Husbandry: Even though somewhat attractive, rarely seen the trade because as with many in this genus, it would not be a good peaceful community fish in most home aquariums. The juvenile has a black body with a white vertical band on the mid body, and a white spot on the head, hence the more common name. Adults lose the three white areas, with the body turning whitish grey and all fins remaining black.

Best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.

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 should be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Pomacentridae

Subfamily: Chrominae

Genus: Dascyllus

FYI: Juveniles can be maintained in small groups, yet as they age, will quarrel with each other, and tankmates even if they are also quite feisty.

In the wild, often lives among the tentacles of sea anemones.

Cute when small, but devils when they mature. Think twice before putting these in your aquarium!

Expansive growths of branching stony corals provide this species a more appropriate environment.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Feisty/belligerent

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons