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Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) — Pomacentridae

Neon damselfish

Pomacentrus coelestis
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The neon damselfish is a small, brightly coloured damselfish from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a brilliant sky-blue body with a yellow belly and tail. It forms loose groups above coral rubble and rocky bottoms of lagoon and outer reefs and picks zooplankton and algae. It is territorial. The fish is harmless to humans, very popular in the aquarium trade and assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Neon damselfish?

The Neon damselfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern. Brilliant sky blue with yellow; territorial plankton picker

Where does the Neon damselfish live?

The Neon damselfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific

How big does the Neon damselfish get?

The Neon damselfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Neon damselfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Neon damselfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Neon damselfish edible?

The Neon damselfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) — Pomacentridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) arthurlk11, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) — Pomacentridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Wayne and Pam Osborn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Neon damselfish verified
Scientific name
Pomacentrus coelestis
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Blue damselfish; Common blue damsel; Damselfish; Neon damsel; Blue damsel; Neon Demoiselle; Yellow bellied damsel verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton and algae inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bright blue damselfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Brilliant sky blue with yellow; territorial plankton picker sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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