Blue Devil Fish Facts

The Blue Devil Fish, or Chrysiptera cyanea to scientists, is also commonly known as the Blue Devil Damsel Fish or Devilfish. This fish is a popular saltwater aquarium fish because it is easy to keep and care for. It is readily available in most pet stores. Named for its striking color and aggressive demeanor, the Blue Devil Fish is commonly confused with the Yellowtail Damsel.

  1. Natural Habitat

    • The Blue Devil Fish is naturally found in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean near the northern portion of the Great Barrier Reef and north to Indonesia. It lives in the shallow parts of the reef and can be seen by divers in the first 33 feet below the surface. It uses the crannies of the reef and a natural pigmentation change in its fins to hide from predators. Because of its natural habitat, the Blue Devil Fish thrives in temperatures between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit

    Appearance, Growth, and Life Span

    • A fully grown Blue Devil Fish may grow to 2.5 inches. You can tell a male from a female Blue Devil Fish by its coloring; a female may develop a black spot on its dorsal fin or remain entirely blue while males will develop a yellow or orange hue on the tail fin. The Blue Devil Fish, with proper care, may live five years or longer.

    Social Behaviors

    • The Blue Devil Fish can be very aggressive and territorial. This is most commonly seen in older fish. In the wild, the Blue Devil Fish will typically form groups with only one male, several females, and possibly some juveniles of both sexes. The adult males are particularly aggressive towards other adult Blue Devil males, as well as to smaller fish. When in captivity, it is a good idea to remove younger males from the group as they begin to reach maturity to avoid aggression.

    Home Care

    • A Blue Devil Fish should be kept in an aquarium without other smaller or passive Blue Devil Fish, as they may kill one another. Typically a hardy fish, the Blue Devil Fish needs an aquarium that holds at least 10 gallons if it is alone and at least 30 gallons if there are other fish present. Provide rocks or other decorations in the tank to mimic the natural reef habitat. They are not picky eaters and will eat algae or copepods in the wild and any combination of different foods, including flakes, pellets, vegetables, and live or frozen meats, in captivity.