Striped Damsel (3 Stripes) – Dascyllus aruanus

About this fish

Striped Damsel (3 Stripes) – Dascyllus aruanus is a small reef-associated saltwater fish from the damsel group. It’s typically kept as an active show fish in marine aquariums, usually spending its time swimming through rockwork and open water while often claiming small areas around caves or branches. Use it to add movement and personality to a reef or fish-only setup, especially where you can provide stable water quality and enough space to manage its natural territorial behavior.

Features:

• Marine tropical damsel species (Dascyllus aruanus) best suited to established saltwater tanks
• Active swimmer that frequently forages and explores around live rock and shelter
• Territorial with conspecifics and can be assertive toward similarly sized fish
• Generally benefits from a varied, meaty diet and regular feeding schedule
• Hardier than many delicate reef fish when water parameters are kept stable

Specifications:

• Scientific name (verified): Dascyllus aruanus
• Care level (general guidance): Moderate; hardy when kept in stable saltwater conditions
• Temperament (general guidance): Can be territorial, especially with similar-looking or same-species fish
• Adult size (general guidance): Typically reaches about 10–12 cm (approximately 4–5 in)
• Diet (general guidance): Omnivore; accepts meaty foods such as small frozen/cured marine foods and quality prepared foods
• Temperature (general guidance): About 24–27°C (75–81°F)
• pH (general guidance): About 8.1–8.4
• Salinity (general guidance): About 1.020–1.025 specific gravity
• Placement (general guidance): Usually stays in and around rockwork; often midwater to shelter areas