ANIMAL: Andaman/Allen’s Damselfish Pomacentrus alleni Type of Animal: Damselfish Habitat: Reefs/associated areas Location(s): E Indian Ocean Appearance: Small neon blue fish w/ yellow anal fin & broad black streak along lower tail fin Food/Diet: Phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, vegetable matter, krill, scallops, shrimp, clams, fish Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in aquaculture & aquariums. Captive breeding reducing demand for wild-caught fish. Lifestyle: Schools of 2-1,000 Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Fry Group: School Weight: 0.003 oz Gestation: 3-5 days Life Span: 2-6 years Body Length: 1.5-2.4 in Also called Neon Damselfish & Allen’s Pomacentrus. These fish sometimes appear in aquarium trade. Eggs adhere to substrate. Males guard/aerate eggs. These fish like to hide & are shy. Typically spawn on undersides of rocks. These fish are rather difficult to breed in captivity. Active during the day (diurnal). There can be hundreds of eggs in single clutch & single male can guard up to 30 clutches of eggs per spawning period. While schooling fish, some territorial behavior shown. Territories often guarded by group. To aerate eggs, male will fan them. Sometimes seen schooling w/ related species. When eggs hatch, they go through larval stage. They become juveniles after larval stage. These fish help keep algae populations in check. Main predators are larger fish. Fun Fact(s): Named after ichthyologist Gerry Allen-known as the world’s top damselfish expert. They sometimes become pale or brownish when stressed.
