Bowtie Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon melas) Care Guide
Neoglyphidodon melas is an Indo-Pacific marine damselfish reaching about 18 cm; juveniles are bright, adults nearly black, and it is not reef-safe.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Neoglyphidodon melas is a marine damselfish of the family Pomacentridae, described by Cuvier in 1830 (originally as Glyphisodon melas). Juveniles are pale blue with a yellow dorsal stripe and yellow-lined tail rays, while adults become dark blue-black.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Neoglyphidodon
- Scientific name: Neoglyphidodon melas
- Author: Cuvier, 1830
Habitat
The species occurs across the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Indo-Malayan Archipelago, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, Palau, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and northern Australia. Adults inhabit coral-rich lagoon and seaward reef areas at depths of about 1-12 m, usually singly or in pairs, while juveniles shelter in staghorn Acropora corals.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Water flow: medium; ample rockwork and hiding places
Diet
The diet shifts with life stage: larvae feed on plankton, juveniles consume mostly soft corals, and adults feed on soft corals and are notably coprophagous, eating the feces of giant Tridacna clams. In the aquarium it accepts a varied omnivorous diet.
Compatibility
The species is aggressive and territorial, particularly as an adult. Adults lacking a resident clam show higher aggression toward other fish, so adequate space and food are important. It can be kept with robust tankmates such as tangs and wrasses; slow or shy fish and other damsels in small tanks should be avoided.
Breeding
Reproduction is oviparous with distinct pairing. Males guard and aerate the demersal eggs, which hatch roughly 3-7 days after fertilization.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2021).
Bowtie Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon melas) Breeding Guide
Overview
Neoglyphidodon melas, the bowtie damselfish, is a large Indo-West Pacific damselfish ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific, reaching about 18 cm total length. Adults are near-black and inhabit soft-coral areas, on which they feed; juveniles are striking yellow and black. FishBase records it as oviparous with distinct pairing during breeding, following the family's demersal-spawning, male-guarded pattern. IUCN assessed it as Least Concern in 2021.
Sexing
No reliable external sexing character is documented for N. melas in the consulted sources, and the dramatic colour change is age-related. As in related damselfishes, the nest-tending male is identified behaviourally during reproduction.
Conditioning
A species-specific conditioning protocol is not documented. Adults feed on soft corals and are often found near giant clams (Tridacna), while juveniles associate with branching Acropora. Because it feeds on soft corals it is not reef-safe. A varied marine diet supports condition; maintain stable reef parameters within the recorded ranges (temperature about 24–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4).
Breeding Setup
Provide open rock in a coral-rich, reef-style layout, giving a male a defensible nest patch. Following the family pattern, the male clears an area of algae and invertebrates before spawning. Because adults are large and aggressive, generous space and broken sightlines reduce conflict; note that the species will graze soft corals.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Specific spawning triggers for N. melas are not documented. In Pomacentridae, ritualised courtship precedes spawning; the female lays a string of sticky eggs attached to the substrate and the male fertilises them externally. FishBase confirms the eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate and that males guard and aerate them.
Egg & Fry Care
The male guards and aerates the clutch through incubation. At family level, eggs hatch over about two to seven days into transparent larvae roughly 2–4 mm long that disperse into a pelagic phase. This planktonic stage is the principal barrier to captive reproduction.