Chrysiptera starcki

Chrysiptera starcki, also called Starck's demoiselle or Starck's damselfish, belongs to the Pomacentridae family. This fish is found in the western Pacific Ocean, with sightings from the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan down to Australia, New Caledonia, and Tonga. It was first classified in 1973 under the name Abudefduf starcki.

The species gets its name from marine biologist Walter A. Starck II, who pointed it out to Gerald R. Allen while they were diving together at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.

Starck's demoiselle has a blue body marked by a yellow stripe running along its back. It can reach a length of up to 7 cm (2.8 in).

This fish lives around reefs, often in deeper, outer areas at depths up to 60 m (200 ft). It hides in crevices among rocky zones. It pairs up for breeding, with the male guarding and tending the eggs. In the wild, it feeds on plankton, including both zooplankton and phytoplankton.

During breeding, males swim back and forth quickly, flashing their colors to attract females. A male prepares a territory filled with rubble where the female lays her eggs. After fertilizing them, he aggressively defends the eggs from intruders.

Starck's demoiselle is highly sought after for saltwater aquariums. Shallow water suits it best, and it can become very colorful with the right diet. The minimum tank size is 76 L (20 US gal). The aquarium should have rocks or gravel and plenty of hiding places. While not very aggressive, it may harass smaller, more passive fish as it grows. Two of them together in a tank will fight. They are easy to keep in captivity and will eat a variety of foods.