bowtie damselfish
| Scientific name | Neoglyphidodon melas |
|---|---|
| Descriptor | Cuvier |
| Year of description | 1830 |
| IUCN category (World) | LC |
| Family | Pomacentridae |
| Genus | Neoglyphidodon |
Introduction
Neoglyphidodon melas, commonly known as the bowtie damselfish, is a tropical marine fish native to the Indo-Pacific region.
Who is it?
Morphology
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Average size16 cm
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Maximum size18 cm
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ShapeOvoid
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Average size16 cm
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Maximum size18 cm
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ShapeOvoid
How to recognize the bowtie damselfish ?
Juveniles are tricolored, with a characteristic bright yellow band that extends from the mouth to the tip of the dorsal fin. The rest of the body is white, with pelvic and anal fins featuring a turquoise and black pattern.
Adults are very dark blue in color.
Behaviour & Life cycle
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dietomnivorous with carnivorous tendency
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Sociabilityliving in small groups
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territorialYes
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Way of livingdiurnal
The bowtie damselfish is a fish that lives in small groups and naturally resides near the bottom in Acropora colonies. It has a rather lively temperament.
The bowtie damselfish is territorial and does not tolerate any intrusion in its living area. It is particularly aggressive towards other territorial species.
Reproduction
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Reproductionovipare qui pond sur substrat découvert
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Hermaphroditeprotandric
The bowtie damselfish is an oviparous fish that lays eggs on exposed substrate.
Harmless species
This species poses no danger to humans.
Where to find it?
Conservation status of populations (IUCN)
Where to see this species?
What is its habitat?
Natural environment characteristics
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Temperature22 - 26 °C
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Depth0 - 12 m
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FlowMedium
Biotope presentation
The bowtie damselfish is most commonly found at depths less than 12m. However, it is not impossible to find this fish at other depths.
Main recommendations for fishkeeping
Deontology
In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.
Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.
We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.
Our recommendations
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Min volume500 liters
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Population min2
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Temperature22 - 26 °C
Characteristics
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Robustnesstolerant
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Behaviourmoderately aggressive
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Availabilityunavailable
General reminders
It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.
General reminder on maintenance datas
Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.
Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.
Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.
Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.
En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.
Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.
Specific needs for the bowtie damselfish
The bowtie damselfish is a marine species which lives naturally at a temperature between 22 °C and 26 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 29°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month. In seawater, it is also possible to remove nitrates using one of the following methods: Jaubert, denitrator on sulfur, biopeletts, vodka method.
Cohabitation & Environment
Being a living in small groups fish, it is advisable to install at least 2 individuals in an aquarium of 500 liters minimum (for 150 cm of frontage). Group maintenance is a prerequisite to ensure their well-being. Lonely individuals tend to quickly become stressed and become especially susceptible to disease.
The bowtie damselfish has a strong character. Its maintenance with territorial neighbors in an inadequate volume will generate stress. ndeed, it will not hesitate to fight to protect its territory and to dominate its neighbors. It is important to think carefully about the constitution of the future population to avoid this kind of inconvenience. The aquarium should be arranged so that each species can comfortably define its own territory.
Tips for feeding
The bowtie damselfish is omnivorous with carnivorous tendency.
This species can eat dry food (flakes, pellets), fresh food and frozen food. To avoid deficiencies, it is recommended to vary the types of food.
You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.
Reproduction protocol
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egg-laying protectionYes
Hybridization risks
In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.
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Sources & Contributions
Participation & Validation
The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.
Adrien Falzon
Translation
Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.
Where to see this species?
Scientific partners
Tags
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