Adult Yellow Stripe Damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris)
Yellow Stripe Damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as
Bicolor Blackmouth Chromis, Behns Damselfish, Blackmouth Chromis, Blackmouth Damselfish, Yellow Honey Damsel, Black and Gold Chromis, Behn’s Damsel, Behn’s Damselfish, Scar-face Damsel-fish, Scarface Damsel, Yellowfin Damsel, and Behn´s Riffbarsch are distributed throughout the Eastern Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific.
In the East Indian Ocean they are found in the Eastern Andaman Sea (Phuket), Indonesia, and northern Australia.
In the Pacific Ocean they are found around Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and New Caledonia, Vietnam, Taiwan, southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands, Malayan Archipelago, New Guinea, Palau, Ryukyu Islands, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Hawaii.
Yellow Stripe Damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris)
Two forms of Yellow Stripe Damsels exist. The black, long tailed form occurs in the Andaman Sea and ranges east to western Bali and north to Japan. The second form, Neoglyphidodon xanthurus occurs in the rest of the West Pacific. Their ranges overlap on the north coast of Bali.
Yellow Stripe Damsels are usually found alone in the coral rich areas of lagoons and seaward reefs at depths from 6 to over 75 feet where they feed on algae, crustaceans, pelagic tunicates and salps.
Yellow Stripe Damsels are always born male but will change sex to become female as they grow; this is called successive protandrous hermaphroditism.
Juvenile Yellow Stripe Damsels have a bright yellow body color with two horizontal black stripes along the head and body, and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. As they grow into adulthood, the body takes on a mostly dark brown to grayish brown color that begins at the head and transitions into a bright yellow color at the rear of the fish. Two dark vertical bars on the pale face run below the eye and
behind the preopercle.
The Yellow Stripe Damsel is a solitary, semi aggressive, non migratory, reef associated species that becomes more aggressive and territorial as they mature into adulthood.
Juvenile Yellow Stripe Damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris)
Juvenile Neoglyphidodon nigroris are best housed as solitary individuals in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 55 gallon capacity with a sandy or finely crushed coral substrate and plenty of live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to hide among and graze on. In a community tank, they will chase smaller fish and hide in the live rock crevices to avoid bigger fish. Their aggressive and territorial behavior makes them unsuitable for keeping with many semi aggressive species, especially as they become adults.
Yellow Stripe Damselfish require pristine water quality to flourish and avoid diseases. Monthly 20% to 30% water changes are recommended to keep the nitrate content below 50mg/L.
Although the reproductive habits of the Yellow Stripe Damsel have not been well studied, they are oviparous and display distinct pairing during breeding. Pairs follow a benthic egg laying cycle where after a brief courtship “dance”, the female lays her adhesive eggs on a rock or shell in the substrate. After the male fertilizes the demersal eggs, he guards and aerates them until they hatch. The fry in their larval stage will drift with the current as plankton feeding on zooplankton and phytoplankton before settling to the bottom as a partially developed damselfish.
In their native habitat, Bicolor Blackmouth Chromis feed on pelagic tunicates, salps, zooplankton, and algae. In an aquarium environment, they should be fed a varied diet of vegetable matter and protein. Meaty foods like finely chopped frozen seafoods, squid, clams, vitamin enriched brine shrimp, and Mysis shrimp
Juvenile Yellow Stripe Damsels (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) are occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty fish stores, online wholesalers, trans shippers, and retailers at a price of $8.99 to $12.99 for a 3/4″ to 1-1/2″ specimen.
Yellow Stripe Damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris)
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72-78°F, dKH 8 to 12 , pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 5″
Color Form: Black, Tan, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef
Origin: Indian Ocean
Family: Pomacentridae
Lifespan: 10 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
