Skip to main content
Humbug Damsel

Fish · Least Concern

Humbug Damsel

Dascyllus aruanus

About

Dascyllus aruanus, widely known as the whitetail dascyllus or humbug damselfish, is a marine fish of the family Pomacentridae.

Family
Pomacentridae
Avg size
6-8 cm
Habitat
The humbug is tied to coral reefs, most often gathering in groups above Acropora coral heads, where it maintains a give-and-take relationship with the reef, trading nutrients for shelter. As a planktivore it acts as a kind of gardener, grazing on unwanted algae and releasing its waste as phosphate and ammonium, while in return it uses the reef for protection and only leaves when necessary. To stay within that safety, it feeds on nearby waste and small prey.
Behaviour
Because the species spends its entire life on a single coral reef, Dascyllus aruanus is fiercely territorial, jealously guarding every resource and treating any unfamiliar species as a threat. Living in shallow water makes defence close to a full-time job, leaving these fish highly observant and wary. Some individuals are bolder than others, attacking first rather than watching for warning signs, and in such shallow habitat the damselfish regularly crosses paths with many other species of fish.

Where & when

Where & When to See It

More Fish