Neon Damselfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Fiji, Sri Lanka
• Family: Pomacentridae   • Species: Damselfish   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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Neon Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni) is a brightly colored species of Damselfish that exhibit brilliant neon blue, green and yellowish/orange coloration. While they are considered an easy species to keep within the aquarium environment, they will only exhibit their true brilliant coloration when they are happy with both the tank conditions and their tank mates. The Neon Damselfish's coloration will appear much more dull when either water conditions are poor or they are being harassed by aggressive tank mates.

Despite being a Damselfish, the Neon Damsel has a disposition that has more in common with Chromis species than with the typical Damselfish species. They are quite docile and should have no problem coexisting with most peaceful reef species. A school of Neon Damselfish makes an excellent addition to a reef aquarium or a FOWLR aquarium with other peaceful to semi-aggressive tank mates.

Neon Damselfish do well in either reef or FOWLR aquariums, they are safe to keep with corals and other peaceful to semi-aggressive fish species. Unlike many Damselfish species, Neon Damselfish P. alleni are much more peaceful with a temperament more reminiscent of a Chromis species. They are a schooling fish species and prefer to kept in groups of 5 to 10 individuals.

Larger groups of 5 or more individuals are said to exhibit brighter coloration or "flash colors" as they compete with each other for group dominance. Given a reasonable aquarium size (amount of territory), a group of Neon Damselfish should peacefully coexist with other similar species or similarly sized species. Neon Damselfish serve a secondary role in the marine aquarium as an indicator of overall aquarium health.

When fully established Neon Damselfish begin to lose color or if their coloration becomes very dull, it is often a sign that the aquarium water quality has declined or water parameters have fluctuated rapidly. Pomacentrus alleni have a reputation as diggers, thus it is important that the aquarium rock work is well supported so that their digging does not destabilize the reef.

Their digging can help to keep the sand bed turned, which helps to keep detritus from building up in the sand bed. While not a replacement of sand sifting stars, sand sifting snails, Blennies, etc. the Neon Damselfish does assist these other species in keeping the aquarium sand bed healthy and free of built of detritus.

Neon Damselfish are an omnivorous species, that are not very picky with what foods they will accept. They should be provided with a well balanced and varied diet of live, frozen, freeze-dried, and vitamin enriched foods such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, cyclop-eeze, formula I & II and other prepared foods such as Spirulina-based, carnivore and herbivore pellets and flakes.