Rolland's Damsel

Rolland's Damsel is one of the most peaceful and community-friendly members of the damselfish family, making it a standout choice for aquarists who want the hardiness of a damselfish without the notorious territorial aggression. This small, attractive species features a distinctive two-toned color pattern with a dark navy to black upper half and a clean white lower half, giving it a refined, tuxedo-like appearance. At only 2.5 inches maximum size, it is among the smallest damselfish commonly available in the trade.

In the wild, Chrysiptera rollandi inhabits sheltered lagoons and coastal reef slopes throughout the Western Pacific. It is typically found among rubble zones and coral outcrops at moderate depths, where it feeds on zooplankton and small benthic organisms. Unlike many of its more belligerent relatives, Rolland's Damsel tends to occupy smaller, less aggressively defended territories and shows significantly less hostility toward neighboring fish, making it a more sociable species overall.

The mild temperament of Rolland's Damsel, combined with its small size, striking coloration, and bulletproof hardiness, makes it an ideal candidate for community reef aquariums. It can be housed in tanks as small as 20 gallons and gets along well with a wide range of tankmates. While it may still display mild territorial behavior around its preferred hiding spots, the level of aggression is far below that of species like the Blue Devil or Domino Damsel. It is completely reef-safe and poses no threat to corals or invertebrates. For aquarists seeking a damselfish that behaves more like a peaceful community fish, Rolland's Damsel is an excellent option.