Major! Here comes the Sergeant!

The Sergeant Major is a species of damselfish, a very small fish, that has five black strips that run vertical along its yellow/silver body. These fish can reach a maximum length of about 9 inches. The maturity levels for the male are reached at a length of about 3.9 inches and for females this is reached at about 3.1 inches. 

When sexual maturity is reached, spawning takes place on rocks, pilings, shipwrecks and nests made by the male sergeant fish on the outcroppings of reefs. The season of spawning ranges differently from location to location, but in the Bahamas spawning can take place between June to August.

The name if the fish is from the resemblance their strips have with the strips of the military rank Sergeant Major. This name comes with high importance. This is one of many fish species that help clean up and prevent an over flow of algae from taking over the coral reef.

Sergeant majors are found in the Atlantic Ocean, usually as far north as New Hampshire then all the way down to Cape Verde and as far east as Africa. Sergeant majors prefer warmer tropical waters and coral reefs. Adults can be found in depth ranging from 0-131 feet down from the surface but juveniles on the other hand are more likely to be found in tidal pools.

Sergeant fish have been known to some as a mildly aggressive fish, but while you are snorkeling or scuba diving, you can just there in the water and they will swim calmly in schools around you. The schools are very harmless while they are around you. The less motions you make, the more comfortable the fish probably feel to get a closer look at you, while also knowing that you are not a predator. . It is one of the coolest things that I have ever experienced with this species and a few others coming closer to catch a sneak peek at you, while at the same time, you are trying to get a good look at you. It is truly an amazing experience being able to get so close to these wonderful fish. 

There is a variety of food items on the menu for this little guy. Sergeant majors can eat anything ranging from algae, small crustaceans, invertebrate larvae and other fishes. There has been some finding in stomach contents of copepods, shrimp larvae, benthic and pelagic algae.

 http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/damsels/sgtmajor.php

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/product-sgt-major