| Golden damselfish or Amblyglyphidodon aureus | | | | This species reaches up to 5 inches in length as an |
| belongs to the family Pomacentridae. This family is | | | | adult. Take its temperament into account when |
| comprised of 28 genera and 360 species. It includes | | | | choosing its tank mates. Although it is very even |
| all damselfish and clownfishes. Established populations | | | | tempered compared to many damselfish species, it |
| of golden damsels extend from the western Pacific | | | | should not be housed with smaller more timid species. |
| to the Eastern Indian Oceans southward to the | | | | Introducing this fish to a pre-established population or |
| Great Barrier Reef. This is a coral reef inhabitant | | | | in unison with the other species you wish to keep in |
| occupying depths from 30 to 150 feet. | | | | your aquarium will reduce aggressive behavior. A |
| Golden damsels have a rounded body, spiked dorsal | | | | minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended. |
| fin and the forked tail characteristic of its grouping. | | | | The golden damsel is an omnivore. In their natural |
| Its bright yellow color palette is accented with | | | | habitat their diet consists primarily of zooplankton. |
| electric blue vertical pin striping on its upper and lower | | | | These fish take readily to aquarium life. They are not |
| body regions. Coloration has a tendency to fade as | | | | picky eaters and instances of problems getting them |
| the fish matures. The golden damselfish is marketed | | | | to start feeding in their new surroundings are rare. |
| under various aliases including yellow damselfish, | | | | They will eat common flake food formulated for |
| lemon damsel, lemonpeel damsel and golden damsel. | | | | marine omnivores. But as with any marine species, a |
| This is a hardy and somewhat aggressive species. Its | | | | varied diet will help insure general health and maintain |
| ability to contend with a multitude of environmental | | | | coloring. Vitamin enriched brine shrimp is a good |
| parameters makes it an excellent choice for the | | | | supplement. They should also be provided with an |
| inexperienced aquarist. The fish's stamina and its low | | | | abundance of living rock to graze on. |
| price tag often lead to it being used as a biological | | | | Damselfish are sequential hermaphrodites. They are all |
| stabilizer in the cycling of new aquariums. If the | | | | born as males. If a group of males are introduced to |
| damsel flourishes in the newly established aquatic | | | | an aquarium together the largest most dominant of |
| environment, then it is worth the risk of adding more | | | | the group will experience a morphological hormonal |
| expensive species of lesser constitution to the | | | | surge until it gender transforms into that of a female. |
| aquarium. In a marine reef it will not disrupt the | | | | This is a trait common to all hermaphroditic marine |
| anchored inhabitants or devour your ornamental | | | | species. Nature will always insure that both genders |
| crustaceans. | | | | are present in a population to insure the prorogation |
| In nature it makes its home amid gorgonian fans and | | | | of the species. These damsels are known to breed in |
| black coral trees. These would make the perfect | | | | captivity. The male damsel will instinctively guard |
| surroundings for a golden damsel fish in a reef tank. | | | | freshly fertilized eggs until they hatch. |