Neon damselfish spend their days feeding within their school, and darting in and out of coral. When they’re young, they stay around fire coral for protection. As they get older, their schools grow in size and they explore parts of the reef.

Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs, close to the bottom among rubble beds. Feed on zooplankton and to a lesser extent on benthic algae. Juveniles often school among soft corals. Adults in small groups or congregate in large numbers over favorable sections of reef (Ref. 48636). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).

The neon damselfish is one of the most common fish on the reef. It is a small fish that swims in large groups, or schools, because it is less likely to be eaten in a big group than alone.

Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and Lord Howe Island.

West Pacific and southeastern Indian Ocean.

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 14 - 15

Maximum size: 90 mm NG

9.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710))

This brilliant blue damsel has more yellow ventrally than P. pavo (Ref. 1602). Yellow-orange tail and posterior parts of dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 48636).

reef-associated; non-migratory; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m (Ref. 9710)

Depth range based on 106 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 68 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.2 - 62.7
  Temperature range (°C): 25.245 - 29.266
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.016 - 2.714
  Salinity (PPS): 33.821 - 35.383
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.338 - 4.802
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.108 - 0.507
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.803 - 4.989

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.2 - 62.7

Temperature range (°C): 25.245 - 29.266

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.016 - 2.714

Salinity (PPS): 33.821 - 35.383

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.338 - 4.802

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.108 - 0.507

Silicate (umol/l): 0.803 - 4.989
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Depth: 1 - 20m.
From 1 to 20 meters.

Habitat: reef-associated. Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, close to the bottom among rubble beds. Feeds on zooplankton and to a lesser extent on benthic algae.

Inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs, close to the bottom among rubble beds. The favoured habitat consists of outer reefs in clear water, frequently among coral rubble in areas exposed to slight wave action or strong currents (Ref. 54301). Adults in small groups or congregate in large numbers over favorable sections of reef (Ref. 48636). Feed on zooplankton and plants (Ref. 26990).

Neon damselfish eat zooplankton—microscopic animals that live in the sea. They also snack on turf algae from time to time. Since they eat both animals and plants, they are omnivores.

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 4 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 66
Specimens with Barcodes: 76
Species With Barcodes: 1

Genomic DNA is available from 5 specimens with morphological vouchers housed at British Antarctic Survey

Not Evaluated

Reefs are in danger, and that means so is the home of the neon damselfish!

aquarium: commercial