Yellowtail Damselfish (Chrysiptera Parasema)

Species Name : Chrysiptera Parasema

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Semi-aggressive

Color : Blue, Yellow

Diet : Omnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 2¾"

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Pomacentridae

Minimum Tank Size : 20 gallons

Chrysiptera Parasema, also known as Yellowtail Damselfish, Yellowtail Blue Damsel, Goldtail Demoiselle, and other variations, is a popular saltwater aquarium fish from the Indo-Pacific.

The Yellowtail Damselfish is aptly named for its yellow caudal fin. These fish have a bright blue body with a neon yellow tail that becomes translucent at the edges of the fins. They have an adult size of only 3" and can be added in a group simultaneously. 

A single Yellowtail Damsel can be housed in a 20 gallon / 75 litre aquarium, while a group will need considerably more space. Provide ample amounts of decorations and live rock to allow this fish to hide and swim thru. When setting up the aquarium for a Yellowtail Damselfish, you don’t need to worry about the type of substrate or water flow. They will be fine with a bare bottom tank, sandy bottom, or even coarse coral or rubble substrate. 

These are safe for reef aquariums and stay small enough for most tanks. Though most Yellowtail Damselfish will ignore other fish, invertebrates, or corals, some may be territorial towards its own kind or similar-sized fish. The Yellowtail Damsel is best kept in small groups of odd numbered fish in suitably sized systems.

The main difference between male and female yellowtail damsels seems to be the size; male yellowtails can be slightly larger than female fish, though this can be difficult to see and might not always be accurate. Yellowtail Damsels have been bred in captivity. 

The food and diet that a yellowtail damsel prefers to eat is everything from small crustaceans to the green algae. These fish are omnivorous creatures, and the normal diet which they feed on is zooplankton. When they are kept in tanks, they can also be feed on a diet with frozen shrimp and prawns. They do not eat corals, but they start sucking on the polyps on the coral reef until they eventually die.