Aqua-Pedia 🐠 Shared tanks
🌐 English
Fish

Neon damselfish

Pomacentrus coelestis
French name : Demoiselle céleste

The neon damselfish is a small marine damselfish (family Pomacentridae) widespread across the Indo-Pacific. Its body glows electric blue along the upper half, transitioning to bright yellow on the belly and tail in most regional forms, making it one of the most vividly colored reef fishes. Like many damsels it is hardy and active but can be territorial and nippy, especially as it matures or when confined. Keeping a small group in a large tank helps disperse aggression, though single specimens are also common. It suits a reef or fish-only aquarium with plenty of live rock providing territories and retreats. An omnivore, it feeds readily on algae, zooplankton, and virtually all prepared marine foods. Its resilience makes it an easy fish, though tankmate selection should account for its feisty temperament.

Water
Marine
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs
Adult size
9 cm
Diet
Omnivore
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Difficulty
Beginner
Keep in group of
3+
Neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis)
Illustration

Water parameters

Temperature24 – 27 °C
pH8.1 – 8.4
Carbonate hardness (KH)8 – 12 °dKH
Salinity33 – 35 SG

Tank & stocking

Minimum tank volume110 L
Volume budget per individual 30 L — adds up with tank-mates
Minimum group size3 individuals (shoaling)

“Minimum tank volume” is a reasonable floor, not an absolute limit. The per-individual budget is used by the Aqua app to estimate how heavily a tank is stocked.

Frequently asked questions

What size aquarium does Neon damselfish need?

Provide at least 110 litres for a small group to keep Neon damselfish in good conditions.

What water parameters does Neon damselfish need?

A temperature of 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, saltwater.

Is Neon damselfish peaceful or aggressive?

Its temperament is semi-aggressive.

What does Neon damselfish eat?

Its diet: omnivore.

How many Neon damselfish should be kept together?

It is a social species: keep a group of at least 3.

How big does Neon damselfish get?

Around 9 cm as an adult.

Is Neon damselfish suitable for beginners?

Care level: beginner.

Planning a tank with Neon damselfish?

AquaTender turns these parameters into live advice: it checks whether your tank is big enough, how heavily it's stocked, and whether your fish are compatible — then tracks water tests, photos and maintenance for you.

➕ Add Neon damselfish to my tank Discover AquaTender
« Add to my tank » opens AquaTender — sign in (free) and pick your aquarium.

Fish from the same biotope

Report an error on this page

Care data is community-assisted. Spotted something wrong? Let us know — it won't change the page instantly, but it goes to moderation.

Care data is generated and manually reviewed; always cross-check before major decisions. ← Back to the encyclopedia