Azure Demoiselle(Azure Damsel Fish)

If we are talking about marine fish, one of the top things we relate to is the dazzling colour of the fishes followed by the misconception of how costly it is to setup a marine tank and the fishes are too costly to even consider. In reality, that is not quite true. Stay tuned to read about how to enjoy the salty side of the hobby within a budget. If we statistically talk about water bodies, salt water is leading this department by miles. Naturally, the number of species also exceeds while comparing with fresh water. One of the most commonly available fish in this saltwater hobby is the damsel fish. They are a huge group of extremely colourful and active fishes which are very hardy with loads of personality. There are various types of damselfish and one of my favorite species is the azure damsel or Chrysiptera hemicyanea. They are commonly called as yellow belly damsel as they are identified by the bright yellow colour extending from the lower belly to the tail. They are among the dwarf damsel species and they don’t grow quite big unlike some of their relatives.Damsels by nature are a little aggressive towards other damsels unless they are introduced at the same time or the tank is big enough. Like cichlids, they also have a habit of marking a territory and fiercely defending them against other damsels. They would choose a small pile of rocks and would return to that same spot after patrol. They are extremely hardy and hence most hobbyist use them as starter fish to get used to their first tank. They are very forgiving and they can take negligence of a novice hobbyist and hence mostly recommended as a fish to cycle the tank. Something is seriously wrong with the tank parameters if your damselfish actually dies in your tank.They are eager to eat and they are not too choosy about what to eat. They can be fed with flakes, pellet of any brand. The oldest azure damsel I had was over 5 years and maybe they can live longer too. They are not schooling fishes unlike their cousins “chromis” so they can be kept a single specimen or a group if the tank is big enough.They are compatible with most fish and they usually don’t bother other fishes unless the same species is added. Typical cichlid behaviour. You can easily keep a couple of damsels in a 2’ tank with plenty of shelter and they would keep you r eyes glued to the tank. Azure damsels are pretty peaceful unlike hambug damsel or blue devil damsel or even our very own three spot damsel. They are extremely intelligent and you would have a really hard time catching one from a tank once it is settled. So, if you decide to add one in the tank, mentally prepare yourself to keep the fish forever. They are very beautiful fishes and they don’t deserve to be treated as “experiment” fishes. They have loads of personality and you can basically identify each fish in a tank individually as well. I am sure you would fall in love with them once you keep them.

PS: They are not very costly too!