Blue Damselfish Tank Mates

Blue Damselfish is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 15 freshwater species that pair well with a blue damselfish — plus the 2 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 10, 2026 • Full Blue Damselfish care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a blue damselfish

  • Clown Goby ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Neon Goby ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Banggai Cardinalfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Firefish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Green Chromis ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Ocellaris Clownfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Percula Clownfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Royal Gramma ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Six Line Wrasse ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Yellow Watchman Goby ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Bicolor Blenny ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Lawnmower Blenny ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 13 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Clarkii Clownfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Tomato Clownfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Mandarin Dragonet ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Blue Damselfish tank mates that can work with care

  • Bicolor Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Blue Tang ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Cleaner Wrasse ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Coral Beauty Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Diamond Goby ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Emperor Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 38 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Flame Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Foxface Rabbitfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 24 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

+ 9 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a blue damselfish

  • Maroon Clownfish ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Blue Damselfish and Maroon Clownfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Domino Damselfish ⛔ Avoid
    Easy care · Aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Blue Damselfish and Domino Damselfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
Interactive tool

Check any fish against a blue damselfish

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a blue damselfish, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Blue Damselfish?

We compare each fish against your blue damselfish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Banggai Cardinalfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Bicolor Blenny✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Clarkii Clownfish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Clown Goby✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Firefish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Green Chromis✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Green Chromis in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Lawnmower Blenny✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 13 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Mandarin Dragonet✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Neon Goby✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Ocellaris Clownfish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Percula Clownfish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Royal Gramma✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Six Line Wrasse✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Tomato Clownfish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Yellow Watchman Goby✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Bicolor Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Blue Tang⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Cleaner Wrasse⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Coral Beauty Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Diamond Goby⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Emperor Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 38 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Flame Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Foxface Rabbitfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 24 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Kole Tang⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Melanurus Wrasse⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Naso Tang⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~680 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Purple Tang⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Regal Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~480 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Sailfin Tang⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 40 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yellow Coris Wrasse⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yellow Tang⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Domino Damselfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Blue Damselfish and Domino Damselfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Two damsel (Blue Damselfish + Domino Damselfish) will likely battle over territory — keep one per tank, or only in a large system with both added together.
  • Maroon Clownfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Blue Damselfish and Maroon Clownfish will hold territory and clash.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up a blue damselfish community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 110 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a blue damselfish

Being semi-aggressive, blue damselfish can nip or harass smaller, slower or long-finned fish — give it space, broken sight-lines and similarly robust companions. It ranges across the whole water column, so tank mates that keep to one level help reduce friction.

Blue Damselfish grows to about 8 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 4 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–27 °C (75–81 °F), pH 8–8.4 and 8–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Blue Damselfish doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a blue damselfish live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 15 compatible freshwater species for blue damselfish. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a blue damselfish?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Clown Goby, Neon Goby, Banggai Cardinalfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a blue damselfish?

Avoid Maroon Clownfish, Domino Damselfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do blue damselfish tank mates need?

Start from Blue Damselfish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 110 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Blue Damselfish care guide