Marine Damselfish
General
These are excellent beginner fish, able to withstand a variety of harsh conditions, and accept food eagerly.
Feeding/Diet
Damsels will usually take to eating just about any food offered. A high quality, dry, prepared food would be a good standard offering, supplemented by some frozen foods. Frozen mysis shrimp, plankton, and bloodworms are all good choices that should be offered once per week.
Compatibility
They are extremely territorial and will take on fish quite a bit larger than themselves in defending their homes. Keep in mind though, most damsels are bite-size, so larger predatory fish are best left out of a damsel tank. Angelfish, basslets, clownfish, hawkfish, pseudochromis, tangs and small wrasses are all good choices. The Chromis are usually less aggressive, while most of the Dascyllus are more aggressive.
Habitat
Damsels are not too demanding of water quality or their habitat. They do want something to hide in to feel secure. Damsels can be housed in tanks as small as 30 gallons.
Best Bets
Almost all of the damsels are hardy species, with the exception of the Chromis being slightly more difficult. The Chromis species are best purchased after your tank has cycled
