Adding as much color to a tank as possible, by selecting fish that are bright and lively, is part of the fun of running or starting a saltwater aquarium of your own. And the yellowtail damselfish fits the bill as well as any other fish when it comes to adding color to a tank. But as is the case with any fish, you do not want to simply add a yellowtail damsel right away; first, you want to research and make sure it is a good fit!

 

 

The yellowtail damsel is sometimes recommended as the first fish to add when cycling a new tank, as they are extremely hardy. But before you decide this makes the yellowtail damsel seem like a no-brainer, you might want to reconsider, as damselfish are also extremely territorial. And despite the fact that the yellowtail is among the least aggressive of all damselfish, this does not negate the followup fact that the yellowtail is still a damselfish!

 

If you add a yellowtail damsel to cycle a new tank, and add no other fish with it, you will run the risk of them going ahead and claiming the entire tank as their own. After this, you will have a hard time adding any fish in the future, as the others will become ill and die due to the constant pestering the yellowtail damsel will do.

 

 

You should also consider the size of your tank if you want a yellowtail damsel; a single yellowtail damsel can be kept in a tank as small as 20 gallons, but you should really plan to keep at least 5 at a time. When you keep them in bigger groups, they become significantly less aggressive; with a bigger group, however, you also need a much bigger tank.

 

You will also need to make absolutely sure that the yellowtail damsel and the other fish in your tank have similar requirements when it comes to the water.

 

 

The pH in your tank should be kept between 8.1 and 8.4, and the temperature should be kept between 75 and 80 degrees for a yellowtail damsel.

 

Because of the beauty of the yellowtail damsel, they can be lovely and fun to watch. Just make sure it will fit well in your tank before you make the decision to add them to the mix!