Starck's Demoiselle (Chrysiptera starcki)
| Starck's Demoiselle Chrysiptera starcki | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Starck's Demoiselle |
| Name Lat. | Chrysiptera starcki |
| Family | Damselfishes |
| Family lat. | Pomacentridae |
| Order | Ovalentarias |
| Order lat. | Ovalentaria inc. sed. |
| Origin | Western Pacific |
| Habitat | Seaward reefs |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive |
| Keeping | Individual |
| Reef Compatible | Yes |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Life Span | 4-6 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 7 cm |
| Temperature | 24-26 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | ~ 250 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 3" |
| Temperature | 75-79 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | ~ 65 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Chrysiptera starcki is the Western Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands over Taiwan to Queensland and New Caledonia. They live there on the outer reef between corals and rocks with sandy bottoms in 20-60 m depth.
Maintenance
They need a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that allows for territoriality and at the same time offers hiding, resting and covering possibilities, with living stones that act like a biological filter and sufficient swimming space. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates may be used as substrate
Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| Salinity: 33-36 ‰ | pH value: 8.1-8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH | Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l |
| phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l | nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l |
For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.
Diet
They feed mainly on zooplankton, but also need plant food. The feed change usually succeeds without problems. The food supply should consist of a commercially available, vitamin-enriched, frozen special food mix for plankton eaters or a combination of algae (e.g. spirulina, kelp) with live and frozen food, such as small mysis, krill, bosmids, cyclops and artemia. In addition, high-quality dry food in flake or granular form with a high vegetable content can be offered, which is usually well accepted. It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day (3-5 times).
Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
Chrysiptera starcki should only be kept singly. They behave very territorial within the species. Keeping several animals is only recommended in a much larger and richly structured tank. Towards others they are mostly peaceful, but defend their territory consequently.
Sex dimorphism
External sexual characteristics are not known.
Reproduction and breeding
There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.
Important
It is recommended to keep these reef dwellers together with corals and not to keep them in a fish-only aquarium.
If different species are kept together, care should be taken to ensure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements, as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium. 
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF