Biota Pavo Damselfish (Pomacentrus pavo)
The pavo damselfish (also known as the sapphire or peacock damsel) is a fantastic choice of fish for any saltwater tank. Like most other damsels, it is exceptionally hardy. Its small adult size makes it appropriate for many nano reef aquarium set-ups. Not only are pavo damsels completely reef-safe, but they are much more peaceful than their average damselfish cousin (in many instances they will even shoal together). And, they even help to eat nuisance algae! Their bright blue coloration and yellow forked tail lend to their impressive appearance; even among the handful of other blue-colored damselfish species, the pavo damsel is a vivid standout. And, they are comparatively rare in the trade! See below for more information.Size and Care Requirements
- Purchase Size: ~1″ (length)
- Max Size: ~3" (length)
- Water Parameters: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.2-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
- Color: Bright blue
- Reef-Safe: Yes
- Diet: Omnivorous
Pavo Damselfish Species Information
The pavo damsel is native to the tropical Indo-West-Central Pacific Ocean including the Coral Sea, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. It typically inhabits sandy areas of lagoon reefs, isolated patch reefs, coral heads or rubble zones where it feeds mainly on zooplankton and filamentous algae.The Benefits of Captive-Bred Damselfish
Captive-bred livestock offers a huge advantage over wild-caught specimens. Because these animals are cultured in captivity, they are better adapted to living in an aquarium and so tend to be more disease resistant and docile. They are also better able to handle shipping/acclimation stress. By purchasing captive-bred pavo damselfish, you support the aquaculture of marine organisms and help to make our hobby more sustainable!100% Alive on Arrival (AoA) Guarantee
We guarantee that every pavo damsel we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should it arrive in any other state, we will replace it free of charge (including shipping). If the total livestock loss is less than $40, we will issue store credit. For more information, please also visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page.

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Our Guarantee
We take the worry out of buying Live Copepods, Phytoplankton, Inverts, and Captive Bred Fish online by going above and beyond to take care of our customers. That’s why we guarantee every order we ship will be 100% Alive On Arrival or we will replace it free of charge. Booya. We’ll even cover the shipping on the replacement no matter which service you choose. Double Booya.
About our policy: When your order arrives, be sure and inspect the contents to ensure everything is looking alive and well before you add them to your tank or put them in the fridge. We’ll give you 12 hours after delivery to make sure you are completely satisfied.
“We will take care of you and make it right”
If for any reason you decide something isn’t quite ultra grade, simply snap a photo of the unopened item(s) you would like replaced. Be sure to get the expiration date on the back label in the photo. After that, visit www.algaebarn.com/claims and submit the form. We’ll review the photo and have a replacement out to you faster than a six-line wrasse at feeding time.
Captive Bred Fish: We guarantee every Live Fish we ship to be 100% Alive On Arrival and we also offer a 7-day health guarantee on all Live Captive Bred Fish. In the event that your fish arrives DOA (Dead On Arrival), simply take a photo of the fish in the unopened bag/jar within 2 hours after delivery and visit www.algaebarn.com/claims to submit the form. If the fish is DOA, we will offer you a choice of either a full refund or a free replacement, including the shipping cost. If the fish expires from natural causes (this does not include being killed by tank mates, jumping out of the aquarium, being acclimated to the wrong environment, not being fed the recommended foods) within 7 days after delivery, just provide a picture of the expired fish and we will offer you a free replacement, however, you must pay for shipping, or a refund, less the shipping cost. We can offer this industry leading guarantee on all of our live fish because Captive Bred fish are generally healthier and hardier than their wild-caught counterparts!
Invertebrates: We guarantee every invertebrate (Invert) we ship to be 100% Alive On Arrival. In the event that your inverts arrive DOA, simply take photos of the DOA items within 2 hours of delivery and visit www.algaebarn.com/claims to submit the form. We will review the photos and issue store credit for any DOA Inverts!
Once your replacement order is processed, we’ll send you a brand new tracking number automatically. Thats it, pretty simple right?
So start giving your tank the love it deserves and order with confidence knowing that AlgaeBarn has your back.
