Pomacentrus philippinus

(Evermann & Seale, 1907)

Philippine Damselfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives to Rowley Shoals, New Caledonia and Fiji north to Southern Japan.

Size: 4 inches (9 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons, reef channels, and seaward reefs at depths between 3 to about 50 feet (1 – 15 m) and feeds mainly on zooplankton (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and filamentous algae.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and sometimes listed as an ‘Assorted Damselfish.’ Adults have a bluish body with a yellow tail.

Best maintained in aquaria having somewhat aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes.

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: This is an aggressive species that will pick on peaceful tankmates.

One per aquarium, unless being maintained in very large aquariums, >75 gallons.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: 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