Chrysiptera brownriggii

(Bennett, 1828)

Surge Damselfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa east to Society and Marquesas Islands, north to Japan, and south to Australia.

Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits surge channels on exposed reefs and outer reef flats at depths between 3 to about 40 feet (1 – 12 m) and mainly feeds on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and filamentous algae.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen the trade because as with some in this genus, this species would not be a good peaceful community fish in most home aquariums. Has a yellowish body with a upper body bright blue horizontal streak edged in black from snout rearwards to the caudal peduncle. Dorsal, anal, pelvic, and tail fins are yellow. Has another color phase, which is quite drab, having a brownish body with two half body height white bands.

Best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.

As to diet, a meaty diet, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina should be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Pomacentridae

Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

Genus: Chrysiptera

FYI: Unsuitable for most home aquariums.

Prefers areas of high water flow/surges.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Feisty/belligerent

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5