The beautiful Orange Tail Damsel Fish has striking coloration and can make a dramatic addition to many reefs or saltwater aquariums.

Although Orange Tail Damsel Fish are relatively hardy, they do require high water quality in order to remain in optimal health. In the wild, Orange Tail Damsel Fish are found in groups of one male and several young fish or several females. They normally feed on algae and various copepods and inhabit reef flats or sheltered clear lagoons with rubble and coral at the bottom. In captivity, Orange Tail Damsel Fish can usually be kept with a variety of other fish. However, they may show some aggression toward members of their own species.

The Other Common Names for Orange tail Damselfish are Orange Tail Blue Damsel Fish, Sapphire Devil Fish, Blue Damsel Fish.

General Size Specifications: The Orange Tail Damsel Fish usually reaches lengths of about three inches (eight centimeters). These fish are available in varying shades of blue, ranging from bright blue to a deeper cyan color. Their tails and fins are a yellowish orange color. Female and juvenile Orange Tail Damsel Fish have black dots at the bases of their dorsal fins, and females may lack the yellow tail coloration.

Habitat: One of the more popular Damsel Fish kept in captivity, Orange Tail Damsels are often collected from Australia's Coral Sea. These fish are native to most of the Indo Pacific, and range from the eastern regions of the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.

Minimum Tank Size: The Orange Tail Damsel Fish should be kept in aquariums that hold at least 30 gallons of water. Bright lighting is preferred. They are reef-safe and can do well in temperatures ranging between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When kept alone, Orange Tail Damsel Fish can tolerate salinity conditions between 1.020 and 1.025 specific gravity. They do well at a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. The Orange Tail Damsels are often maintained on flake food. They can also be fed fresh protein and vegetable items or freeze-dried and frozen foods.

Breeding: Not much is known about the captive breeding of the Orange Tail Damsel Fish. To combine sexes, look for a black dot at the base of the dorsal fin. The lack of such a spot will indicate a male, and the presence of this spot will show that the fish is a female or an immature.