Steve Parish

Adult Reticulate dascyllus or two-stripe damselfish are typically found in the outer lagoon and seaward reefs. Like the species featured, they prefer to inhabit branching coral heads or soft corals. These fish often form schools and during the breeding season, the male prepares a nest by cleaning a rock or coral surface with its mouth, where the female will later attach her eggs. After laying her eggs, she exhibits distinct pairing behaviour during the egg caring period and will vigorously defend from any sized intruder, even a diver! The eggs are demersal, meaning they adhere to the substrate, and the males boldly guard and aerate them using their fins. This species is diurnal, meaning they are active during the day; at night, they sleep deep inside the tissues of stony corals.