Neoglyphidodon oxyodon

(Bleeker, 1858)

Javanese Damselfish, Blue Velvet Damselfish, Bluestreak Damselfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Indo-Australian Archipelago including Indonesia and the Philippines and Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea).

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits protected reef flats of lagoons and inshore reefs at depths between 3 to about 10 feet (1 – 3 m) and feeds on algae and benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: An hardy species, with the juveniles having a dark blue body with a white stripe down the center of the body, and some metallic blue on the fins. Adults turn a dark brown/black and lose most of the blue lines, and the white stripe.

Extermely feisty, and as it grows into adulthood, becomes even more aggressive and must be housed with very aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large wrasses, 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: Neoglyphidodon

FYI: Attractive when small, yet not suitable for most home aquariums. Simply too feisty.

Easy to keep well fed, yet problematic as to tankmates!

Must have aggressive tankmates.

One per aquarium.

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: 55 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5