Pomacentrus

Pomacentrus simsiang

Bleeker, 1856

Blueback Damselfish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines and Celebes to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 4 inches (9 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits steep outer reef slopes and deep lagoons at depths between 10 to about 200 feet (3– 60 m) and mainly feeds on zooplankton (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and algae.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, with adults quite drab having a greyish body, with the juveniles quite attractive having yellowish body topped in dark blue that has several bright blue lines, with a black eyespot edged in bright blue on the rear lower dorsal.

Best maintained in small groups of at least five to seven members and somewhat aggressive tankmates.

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: In small aquariums, will annoy peaceful tankmates.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution