Southern Demoiselle
Chrysiptera notialis
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Omnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 4 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Southern Demoiselle (Chrysiptera notialis) is a small reef damselfish with a blue-gray base color and darker contrast around the fin bases. Native to the New Caledonia region, it stays close to rockwork and adds steady, day-long movement to reef tanks.
What You’ll Observe:
- Repeated patrol loops from a favorite crevice out into open water and back again
- Quick feeding response in the water column, followed by returning to its home rock
- Short display dashes and fin flares when another fish passes near its chosen area
- Regular perching and hovering near the rock face, especially when the lights are brightest
Provide several rock crevices and overhangs so it can choose a home base and settle into a predictable route. Offer a mixed omnivore menu (meaty foods plus algae-based options) in small portions for consistent conditioning. With stable water quality and an established aquascape, this species becomes a reliable, active presence in the tank.
Why does it stay in one spot so much of the day?
Many demoiselles pick a single rock or crevice as a home base and make short patrols from that point, especially once they feel established.
Can I keep more than one Southern Demoiselle?
It’s often easiest to keep a single specimen, but hobbyists who keep multiples typically add them at the same time and use a rock layout with several distinct hideouts.
Is it normal for its color to look darker sometimes?
Yes—temporary darkening (or looking more muted) is commonly reported during acclimation, at lights-out, or during quick display behavior.
What does spawning behavior look like in a reef tank?
Keepers often notice a cleaned patch of rock and tighter guarding of a small area, with one fish making short, repetitive passes over the same spot.
How do hobbyists usually catch a demoiselle if needed later?
A common approach is using a fish trap (or a baited DIY bottle trap) placed near its home rock and letting it get comfortable entering for food.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
Recently viewed products
