Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Two Little Fishies 

Pomacentrus

Pomacentrus amboinensis

Bleeker, 1868

Ambon Damsel, Lemon Damselfish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Andaman Sea east to Marshall Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to northern Australia.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits fringing reefs and outer reef faces and slopes at depths between 6 to about 130 feet (2 – 40 m) and feed mainly on filamentous algae and planktonic crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Occassionaly seen in the trade, with this hardy species having a pale lemon-yellow body, with a black spot at the base of pectoral fins. Juveniles also have an black eye spot edged in blue on the rear dorsal, which fades depending upon the area of collection, e.g., those from the Andaman Sea do not fade as it grows into adulthood.

Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae.

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and offered once or twice daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Labroidei

    Family: Pomacentridae

    Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

    Genus: Pomacentrus

FYI: Can be maintained in small groups of at least five to seven members when juveniles, however, become aggressive to peaceful tankmates as they move into adulthood.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Semi-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Pomacentrus amboinensis (Ambon Damsel, Lemon Damselfish)
Photo © Robert Patzner
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Polyp Lab