Everything you need to know about these dazzling farmers of the coral reefs
Q: How do they swim?
A: They use their pectoral fins and have a continuous dorsal fin with a forked or crescent-shaped tail.
Q: What do damselfish eat?
A: Micro-crustaceans, algae, and plankton.
Q: Where do they live?
A: Mostly in tropical coral reefs, occasionally in brackish water, and rarely in freshwater.
Q: How do damselfish court mates?
A: Males guard territories and display by swimming upwards swiftly while making sounds. Females choose males that call more frequently.
Q: What makes damselfish “farmers”?
A: Some species maintain “algae farms” by weeding out unwanted algae species and defending their farm from other herbivores. They also rear shrimp that benefit their algae farms.
About the contributors
Diviya Mehra
is a graphic designer. She was the former art director of National Geographic Traveller. Her love for animals, travel and design has shaped her career through the years.
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Wenzel Pinto
is a marine biologist at the Nature Conservation Foundation and is currently working on reef dynamics and island vulnerability in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
Published: Jan 27, 2025
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