ANIMAL: Sapphire Damselfish Pomacentrus pavo Type of Animal: Damselfish Habitat: Reefs, coral heads, rubble areas Location(s): Indo-Pacific Appearance: Males sapphire w/ orange tails, females all blue, juveniles have yellow anal fins/tails, small fish species Food/Diet: Brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, seaweed, algae, zooplankton 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: 3-7 days Life Span: 2-6 years Body Length: 2.4-3.3 in Main predators are larger fish. These fish sometimes appear in aquarium trade. Eggs adhere to substrate. Males guard/aerate eggs. These fish are shy & like to hide. These fish are rather difficult to breed in captivity. Active during the day (diurnal). To aerate eggs, male will fan them. These fish help keep algae populations in check. Sometimes seen schooling w/ related species. While schooling fish, some territorial behavior shown. Territories often guarded by group. There can be hundreds of eggs in single clutch & single male can guard up to 30 egg clutches per spawning period. When eggs hatch, they go through larval stage. They become juveniles after larval stage. When breeding pair picks nest site, they engage in mating dance w/ rapid swimming/fin movements. Males darken when breeding. Spawning typically occurs at dawn. Fun Fact(s): Also called Peacock Damsel (fish) (pavo actually Latin for peacock), Blue Damsel (fish), Azure Damsel (fish), Sapphire Demoiselle, Pavo Damselfish, Azure Demoiselle, & Peacock Demoiselle. They become less colorful when stressed.
