Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Pomacentrus

Pomacentrus pavo

Bloch, 1787

Sapphire Damsel, Peacock Damsel, Blue Damsel

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa east to Tuamotu Island, northwest to Taiwan, and south to southern and northern Australia.

Size: 4 inches (9 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy lagoons and patch reefs at depths between 3 to about 70 feet (1 – 20 m) and feeds mainly on zooplankton (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and filamentous algae.

General Husbandry: Occassionaly seen in the trade, with adults having a bluish green body and fins, with the juvenile having a yellow anal fin and tail.

Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae, numerous hiding places and 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

 Pomacentrus pavo (Sapphire Damsel, Peacock Damsel, Blue Damsel)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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