ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Rolland's Damsel
Damsel

Rolland's Damsel

Chrysiptera rollandi

One of the few damsels you can genuinely call peaceful, Rolland's Damsel (or Blackcap Demoiselle) wears a dark cap and back over a pale cream belly, laced with fine blue streaks. It's a tough, forgiving nano fish that shrugs off imperfect water and eats almost anything, making it a great beginner reef pick. It hovers low near rockwork and caves rather than patrolling the whole tank, and won't touch corals or inverts. Mild by damsel standards, though it can still hold a small territory.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
2.4"
Min tank
20 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Rockwork, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Rolland's Damsel gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Blue DamselRolland's Damsel and Blue Damsel are the same genus (Chrysiptera) and will fight — keep only one.Yellowtail DamselRolland's Damsel and Yellowtail Damsel are the same genus (Chrysiptera) and will fight — keep only one.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Coral HawkfishCoral Hawkfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Azure DamselfishRolland's Damsel and Azure Damselfish are the same genus (Chrysiptera) and will fight — keep only one.Talbot's DamselRolland's Damsel and Talbot's Damsel are the same genus (Chrysiptera) and will fight — keep only one.Springer's DemoiselleRolland's Damsel and Springer's Demoiselle are the same genus (Chrysiptera) and will fight — keep only one.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Fiji Blue Devil DamselRolland's Damsel and Fiji Blue Devil Damsel are the same genus (Chrysiptera) and will fight — keep only one.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rolland's Damsel.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Yellow TangYellow Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Powder Blue TangPowder Blue Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Keyhole AngelfishKeyhole Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Powder Brown TangPowder Brown Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Square AnthiasSquare Anthias (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Blue-Throat TriggerfishBlue-Throat Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Rolland's Damsel and may harass it.