Yellow Damsel

The Yellow Damsel is a handsome, moderately sized damselfish that displays a warm golden yellow coloration across its deep, laterally compressed body. Unlike the more intensely pigmented Lemon Damsel, the Yellow Damsel has a softer, more golden hue with subtle olive or green tones along the dorsal area, giving it a natural, warm appearance. Adults reach approximately 5 inches in length, making this species somewhat larger than many commonly kept damsels and requiring correspondingly more swimming space.

In the wild, Amblyglyphidodon aureus inhabits coral-rich reef slopes and lagoons throughout the Western Pacific, from Indonesia to Fiji. It is commonly associated with large branching coral formations, particularly Acropora thickets, where it feeds primarily on zooplankton drifting over the reef. Unlike many damselfish that are strongly benthic and territorial, the Yellow Damsel spends more time in the water column above its coral host, making it somewhat more pelagic in its feeding behavior. Small groups are commonly seen hovering above coral heads, picking off passing plankton.

The Yellow Damsel is one of the more manageable damselfish in terms of temperament, generally classified as semi-aggressive rather than truly belligerent. While it will establish and defend a loose territory, its aggression is considerably less intense than species in the Dascyllus or Stegastes genera. Its golden coloration, moderate size, and relatively peaceable nature make it a good choice for larger community reef aquariums. It is completely reef-safe and will not harm corals or invertebrates. A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended due to its larger adult size compared to smaller Chrysiptera and Pomacentrus species.