Three Stripe Damsel

The Three Stripe Damsel (Dascyllus aruanus) — also commonly called the Humbug Damsel, Banded Damsel, or White-Tailed Damsel — is one of the most recognizable and widely kept damselfish in the marine aquarium hobby. Its crisp black-and-white vertical banding gives it a clean, graphic appearance that stands out beautifully against live rock and coral, and its bold personality makes it a constant presence in the upper water column.

Native to the shallow lagoons and protected reefs of the Indo-Pacific, this species naturally lives in small social groups that hover above branching corals, darting down for cover at the first sign of danger. In the home aquarium, they exhibit the same behavior, making them an active and entertaining addition to systems with plenty of rockwork or branching SPS. They are exceptionally hardy, disease-resistant, and a popular choice for cycling tanks or as a first saltwater fish — though their temperament should be considered carefully before adding to a community system.

Three Stripe Damsels are reef safe with corals and inverts but are notoriously territorial as they mature, especially in smaller systems. Adults will defend a chosen patch of rockwork aggressively against newcomers, including fish much larger than themselves. They are best kept either as the first fish in a peaceful community where they'll mellow with age, or as part of a semi-aggressive setup with tankmates that can hold their own. A 30-gallon minimum is recommended, with larger systems allowing for groups of three or more to disperse aggression. They readily accept a varied diet of mysis, brine, marine flake, and pellets.

At Ocean To You, every fish is quarantined and observed before sale. We don't sell sick fish.