Wild Starkii Damselfish feed on a mix of zooplankton and algae, taking copepods, mysis, shrimp larvae, and fish eggs from the water column while also grazing. That dual appetite makes the species a straightforward omnivore in captivity, and it should be fed a rotation that covers both animal protein and plant matter rather than meaty items alone.

Suitable offerings include mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped krill or other seafood, marine flakes and pellets, spirulina-based preparations, and herbivore rations. Small portions delivered about three times daily, or at least several times per day, match the grazing and plankton-picking pattern this fish follows on the reef. Newly introduced specimens generally accept prepared foods readily, so extended weaning protocols are rarely necessary.

This is an active, territory-holding damselfish that occurs singly or in small groups on its native reef slopes. Young specimens tend to be less assertive than many other damsels, but confidence grows with age, and mature fish will patrol their chosen rockwork and challenge intruders. Conspecifics, other damselfishes, and fish of similar shape draw the most attention. Keeping a single specimen is the most reliable approach; multiple fish should only be attempted in spacious, heavily structured systems, with published strategies including 50-plus gallons for a small group or a large odd-numbered group of at least nine juveniles added simultaneously.

Choose tankmates that can hold their own. Very docile species such as gobies, cardinalfishes, blennies, and firefish are poor matches and may be harassed persistently. Toward sessile life the species is well behaved, and it is consistently regarded as coral-safe and appropriate for reef aquariums. Reports on invertebrates are slightly less uniform, with one assessment stating that it harms neither corals nor invertebrates and another advising caution without naming a specific vulnerable group; no predation risk to shrimp, crabs, snails, or clams has been documented. Reef compatibility should not be read as universal peacefulness, since small timid fish remain at risk.