🐠 Three Stripe Damsel (Dascyllus aruanus)
A White Body With Three Thick Black Vertical Stripes • A Classic, Iconic Damselfish Pattern • A Feisty, Hardy Beginner Species
 
📋 A note on identification: the Three Stripe Damsel is easily confused with the Four Stripe Damsel (Dascyllus melanurus), and the two are distinguished simply by counting stripes, three on this species, four on the other.
The Three Stripe Damsel, also known as the 3 Stripe Damsel or Black and White Humbug, has a simple, striking white body marked by three thick black vertical stripes, black pelvic fins, a pale caudal fin, and translucent pectoral fins. It comes from coral-rich areas, lagoons, and outer reef slopes across the Indo-Pacific, often found in the wild in large numbers around staghorn Acropora thickets. Every Three Stripe Damsel we ship is feeding well.
An interesting fact: as juveniles, this species will sometimes live in a loose association with sea anemones, though it grows away from this relationship as it matures. This is a hardy, easy-to-care-for beginner fish with a well-earned reputation as a "little man"; it can be quite aggressive and territorial for its size, nipping at much larger fish to defend its claimed area, so tankmates should be chosen with real care. It's fully reef safe, and won't bother corals, anemones, or other invertebrates. It reaches up to 10cm, so a 115L tank suits it well.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 White Body With Three Black Stripes: A classic, iconic damselfish
🔍 A Naming Note Worth Knowing: Easily confused with the Four Stripe Damsel, just count the stripes
🌿 Fully Reef Safe: Won't harm corals or invertebrates
⚠️ Feisty: Territorial and aggressive for its size
💪 Hardy: An easy, beginner-friendly species