Humbug Damsel
Dascyllus aruanus
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 to See It
Gota Kebir
Gota Soraya
Abu Hashish
Abu Kifan
Abu Nuhas
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Amphoras
Belina Wreck
Big Giftun
Blue Hole - El Bells
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Eel Garden
Eel Gardens
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Fanous West
Elphinstone
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Gordon Reef
Habili Ali
Habili Gaffar
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Kormoran
Lighthouse
Middle Garden
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
Near Garden
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum
Panorama Reef
Pinky Wall
Ras Abu Helal
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Claudia
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sataya
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark's Bay
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Small Giftun
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
South Ras Abu Galum
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Canyon
The Ulysses
Thistlegorm
Thomas Reef
Three Pools
Tower
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar North
Umm Kharalim
Woodhouse Reef
Banana Reef
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
El Mina Wreck
Giannis D
Gota Abu Ramada
Kimon M
Laguna Reef
Paradise
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Rosalie Moller
Salem Express
Shaab Eissa
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Shark Observatory
The Islands
Umm Gamar South
White Knight
Jackson Reef
Abu Dabbab
The Caves
Abu Ghalawa