Longfin Damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) Care Guide
Stegastes diencaeus is a Western Atlantic damselfish; juveniles are bright yellow and blue, adults dark and highly territorial.
Overview
Stegastes diencaeus, the longfin damselfish, was described by Jordan and Rutter in 1897. According to FishBase it is a Western Atlantic reef fish reaching about 12.5 cm total length. Juveniles are bright yellow with two blue lines on the head and a blue-edged black spot on the dorsal fin, while adults become dark gray-brown.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Stegastes
- Scientific name: Stegastes diencaeus
Habitat
FishBase records the species from southern Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean Sea, including the Antilles and from the Yucatan to Venezuela. Adults inhabit coral and rocky reefs of sheltered lagoons and inshore areas, mainly at depths of 2-5 m within a wider range of 2-45 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F); FishBase reports a wild range of about 26-28 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH: 8-12
- Lifespan: about 5-10 years
Diet
FishBase classifies it as a herbivore feeding primarily on plant material at a low trophic level. Wikipedia notes a notable behaviour in which the fish maintains algal farms in association with mysid shrimp (Mysidium integrum), described as a form of domestication. In the aquarium it is an omnivore accepting prepared and algae-based foods, typically fed twice daily.
Compatibility
FishBase describes adults as territorial and pugnacious. This is an aggressive species that defends a feeding territory, so it suits robust tankmates such as tangs, wrasses and triggers (with caution) and should not be combined with slow or shy fish, or other small damsels in confined tanks.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 15 November 2010).