Neoglyphidodon oxyodon Care Guide
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon is a Western Pacific damselfish whose dark-blue streaked juveniles fade to a grey-black, territorial adult.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon is a marine damselfish of the family Pomacentridae, described by Bleeker in 1830 and known as the bluestreak or Java damselfish. Juveniles are dark blue with light yellow markings and blue streaks that fade with maturity, while adults become greyish black. According to FishBase, it is found in the Western Central Pacific.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Neoglyphidodon
- Scientific name: Neoglyphidodon oxyodon
- Author: Bleeker, 1830
Habitat
The species is reef-associated and non-migratory. Adults occur in protected reef flats of lagoons and inshore reefs, including current-swept flats, typically around Acropora coral heads at depths of 0 to 4 metres. FishBase records its range across the Indo-Australian Archipelago, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, in waters of about 26.5-29.3 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Adult size: 14-16 cm
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Substrate: sand with coral and rock structure
Diet
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon is an omnivore, feeding on zooplankton and filamentous algae. In aquaria it accepts a varied diet of prepared marine foods together with algae-based feeds, offered about twice daily.
Compatibility
The species is diurnal and territorial, sheltering in corals at night to avoid predators. As it matures it becomes increasingly aggressive. Robust tankmates such as tangs, wrasses and triggers (with caution) are preferable to slow, shy fishes or other small damsels kept in small tanks.
Breeding
The species is oviparous and forms distinct pairs during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate, and the male guards and aerates them until hatching.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in September 2021.
Blue-streak Damsel (Neoglyphidodon oxyodon) Breeding Guide
Overview
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon, the blue-streak damsel, is a Western Central Pacific damselfish of the Indo-Australian Archipelago (Philippines, Indonesia, Ashmore Reef), reaching about 15 cm total length. Juveniles are black with blue and yellow streaks while adults darken. 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. oxyodon in the consulted sources, and colour differences are age-related. As in related damselfishes, the nest-tending male is identified behaviourally during reproduction.
Conditioning
A species-specific conditioning protocol is not documented. N. oxyodon is a herbivore/omnivore (trophic level about 2.7) that gathers in loose groups on current-swept reef flats; 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 reef-style layout with moderate flow resembling the species' current-swept reef-flat habitat, 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 aggressive, generous space and broken sightlines reduce conflict.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Specific spawning triggers for N. oxyodon 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.