Guides Fish Pick
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Adult photo courtesy of Hawai'i Coral Reef Network
(Juvenile) (Adult)
- Hawaiian Common Names: Hawaiian Dascyllus, Domino Damsel, White-Spotted Damsel
- Hawaiian Names: A-lo-'i-lo-'i, A-lo-'i-lo-'i pa-'a-pa-'a, Lo-i-lo-'i, 'a (young), and 'A-'a (young)
- Hawaiian Scientific Name: Dascyllus albisella (Gill, 1862)
- Indo-Pacific Common Names: Threespot Damsel, Domino Damsel, White-Spotted Damsel
- Indo-Pacific Scientific Name: Dascyllus trimaculatus (Ruppell, 1828)
- Source Info:Debbie & Stan Hauter, Fishes of Hawaii by Spencer W. Tinker, and Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species by Scott W. Michael.
These fish in their juvenile stage are rather cute. When very small, from the size of a pencil eraser up to about one or two inches, they are all black with a very pronounced small one white spot on each side of the body and a bright blue line across the head, in front of the dorsal fin almost between the eyes. When they are in a large school they look like little elevators moving up and down in unison. As they develop into the larger adult stage they loose the blue line below the front dorsal fin, which turns into a small white spot, and the white spots on the sides of the body become more of a broadened, white patch. When excited, the body darkens and the white spot becomes more defined. Adults will grow to an average size of about five inches.
As juveniles these fish are not aggressive and communally get along well. New hatchlings in the wild of the Hawaiian species (Dascyllus albisella) form colonies around coral heads of Pocillopora sp., while the Indo-Pacific species (Dascyllus trimaculatus) will often shelter together in sea anemones. However, in the adult stage they can be a real nuisance to each other and other tankmates because of their territorial nature. We have found that mixing juveniles with larger maturing and adult specimens is not a good idea. The larger ones will attack the smaller ones, an brutally we might add. Many times these fish will fight with others that are similar in size to themselves as well. If you introduce a small group of the juveniles into an aquarium at the same time and allow them to mature together, this seems to help subdue some of their fights and conflicts. Once past the juvenile stage they are best kept in a moderately aggressive community tank, in male-female pairs, or singly.
Unlike most saltwater fish species that are pelagic spawners, these Damselfishes do nest and lay eggs. In the field of breeding and rearing saltwater fishes, research in this area with D. trimaculatus has been done. Their nesting traits are very obvious. Showing no signs of fear, while diving we have had adults come up and nip at us in an attempt to chase us off and defend their territory when we got too close to their nesting area. Another interesting thing about them is they make a "purring" sound when agitated. Don't be surprised if you are sitting there watching your tank or doing some maintenance work in it and you hear them do this.
They inhabit all depths of the reef hiding in coral heads, but the juveniles do prefer calmer, shallower waters. Whether juveniles or adults, they hang around outside of their house and when frightened will dive back into it for protection.
Not being picky eaters, they will eat just about anything you give them. They will thrive on a varied diet of vitamin enriched dried or frozen meaty fares, as well as herbivore flakes. They are ideal for a reef tank system because they will not harm invertebrates and will consume some algae as well.
We give this fish a 
Care Rating Level. It is not a very pretty fish, especially when it becomes an adult, but if you are just starting out and setting up a new aquarium it is a great starter fish. It is a species that is hardy and stands up pretty well under the adverse tank water and chemistry conditions a new aquarium goes through during the cycling process. However, beware of their aggressiveness towards other or newly introduced fish in your aquarium. You can always start your aquarium with these fish and then trade them in later, or have someone else that might be getting started adopt them.
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Starfish clipart from Debbi Rapp's Tropical Nights Web Graphics
