Damselfish

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Damselfish are small, active and usually brightly colored tropical fish. Most have a forked tail. There are more than 300 species worldwide, with a great variety of lifestyles including algae eaters, zooplankton feeders, and symbiotic partners with sea anemones. Most damselfish make their homes on coral reef where they are seen swimming in schools or pairs.


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Photo of a Damselfish by James Garrin

Damselfish are territorial, and defend their home and food sources from other fish. Most males maintain a harem of females. Males create and guard a nest of tiny eggs until they hatch. Juveniles usually have a different coloration from adults.


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Photo of a Damselfish by James Garrin

As mentioned, some damselfish live in close association with sea anemones, which offer protection from the damselfish's predators. Even though the anemones are deadly to other species of fish, the resident damselfishs are immune to the anemones stinging tentacles. The damselfish spend most of their lives amongst the stinging branches of the anemone, and some even lay their eggs at the base where they remain protected from predators!


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Juvenile Cocoa Damselfish, Stegastes variabilis, Blue Heron Beach
Photo courtesy of Courtney Redfield

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Sergeant Major, Abudefduf saxatilis, West Palm Beach
Photo by Debi Buck

Sergeant majors are the most recognizable of all damselfish, having five black bars along their body. They are very common in Florida, and not confined to coral reefs, they live quite happily in sea grass beds, ports, sandy harbors and rubble areas.


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Three Spot damselfish, Stegastes planifrons, Key Largo
Photo by Courtney Redfield

Three spot damselfish are extremely territorial fish, and will guard large areas around their homes, fending off intruders, often larger than they are!

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Bicoloured damselfish, Stegastes partitus, Boynton Beach
Photos by Robert Palmer
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Bicoloured damselfish are very common in south Florida. They show different variations in color, depending on region.

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Blue Chromis, Chromis cyaneus, West Palm Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer

Blue chromis are colorful little fishes that live in schools around coral reefs, and lead a very active life. they feed on algae and zooplankton. They grow to 5 inches or so, and are long lived: they can survive to more than 5 years!

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Juvenile Beaugregory, Stegastes leucostictus, Boynton Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer

The beaugregory damselfish lives in seagrass beds, sandy areas and rocky rubble areas. They are also occasionally found around mangrove shores and over coral reefs.