Cycling Damsels! MUST READ

[demosthenes]

In a recent post I was talking about a mean yellowtail damsel that another member owned. I made this statement,
Originally posted by Demosthenes:
<strong>IMO, they are only cycle fish, and meant for nothing else, unless they are the only inhabitants in the tank.</strong><hr></blockquote>
and was attacked viciously by Shive, Glazer, Susiepan, Rambalou2002, Eseow, and Sandy. I was basically called a cold-blooded murderer. The post, it is titled "My damsel will kill your damsel" and was started by OracleDBA72. This is to explain my comment.
If you would only notice what I say, and not be so quick to assume I don't realize they are living creatures. What I was saying was that they should be kept individually, or not at all. I am saying that they are aggressive and don't belong with other fish. I am saying they can be used to cycle the tank, and then be traded in, or remain, as long as they are the sole species. I am saying that they don't mix well with other species. I am no cold-blooded killer! Jeez, one person says one thing, and most everybody gets into a mob-like mentality. I was saying that they should be kept with their species, or not at all. I have a damsel-only tank, but I don't think I'll stick a tang in there anytime soon, unless I want to be forced to flush him! Calm down and let a person explain, or at least truly read what a person writes.

 

[susiepan]

I am sorry Dem,
I just see SO many times how people "Just use Damsels to cycle" and it makes me crazy, they are living creatures, and thats all I was saying to you...I came off hard, and I truly am sorry for that, but I still dont think its OK to cycle with any live fish.
Again I shouldnt have jumped in your stuff...One remark made the point, and I should have let that be enough..
~Susie

 

[demosthenes]

I should also state, I didn't even use damsels to cycle my tank. I used dead shrimp, I was simply stating that people use them to cycle them, and when the tank is cycled, should take them back, or keep them, but if they are kept, they should be kept with only their species, not others, as damsels can get pretty mean. I have a damsel tank, and would never add anything in that tank, except maybe another damsel, and would only do so at night, while the lights are out, to prevent it from being killed. I have 7 damsels, and they are all named. I feel the same for them as I do any other.

 

[lnarobbins]

I have a yellow tailed damsel in my tank he has been in their since the beginning(3yrs) he is really beautiful close up and has very fine black lines over his face his is gigantic (2and1/2in)
he is a little on the aggressive side but dosent seem to bother anybody else in the tank. they just leave him alone....except for the female maroon she chases the hell out of him if he gets too close to the anenome. I've had good luck w/mine
Dem. you are NOT a cold blooded killer.
ALan

 

[tankstolove]

I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it. Opions mean alot to the person that owns them. Cycling with damsels has been the way to cycle for years. I've used the method many times before on new set ups.
To save on the pocket book I now use fresh water black mollies acclimated to salt water to cycle tanks.
How did they suggest starting a tank, adding ammonis artificially, using cultured bacteria?
What is the alternative to get a tank up and going in 3 to 4 weeks?

 

[demosthenes]

They suggested using dead shrimp, which I did use, but it just angered me how they all exploded and attacked me. If you want to read the post I think you will agree with me. I would suggest reading the post.

 

[tankstolove]

Now there is someone else to dislike and not agree with, me. No I am curious about other means. Doesn't adding decaying material promote harmful bacteria, although I relize that will give you a huge ammonia spike. Thoughts, I missed the original topic.
Thanks.

 

[demosthenes]

Anyone reading this, I suggest you read "My damsel will kill your damsel" started by OracleBDA72, it is in this forum, and this is where this whole thing started.

 

[susiepan]

Dem, I apologized, and your still going on with it, not even acknowledging that someone has apologized to you, and in all honesty, I really said probably the least offensive thing to you...
I ....AM......Sorry.........
I cant say more than that...If I didnt mean it, I sure wouldnt say it....What more can I say???????
I understand your feelings were hurt, but if someone honestly apologizes, the least you can do is acknowlegde it..
~Susie

 

[heavenly damsel]

If you want a really aggressive fish inherit a lafge tomato clown. Talk about territorial! This fish is a nightmare. It was in a 46 gallon all by itself before I inherited it. I had to move my perc to another tank becauwe of him. He is in the tank with my yellow tangs now and they seem to be able to hold their own with him. Live and learn. The tomato is about 4" long, fat and sassy. He is every bit as bad or worse than damsels.

 

[glazer]

Demo,
I am sorry if you feel you were "attacked viciously" by myself and the others. I did indeed truly read what you wrote and have gone back and read the post repeatedly....
It's all in the interpretation of what one reads and I stick to my original interpretation. It is also obvious that the other members of the "mob" that attacked you read it the same way. I thought your comment without the follow-up explanation/elaboration sounded harsh and showed a total disregard for another life form. Sorry if you feel I attacked you so.
P.S. Just wait till you get married, then you will truly find out what you say actually means....lol

 

[sandy]

Demo? My post was not meant as an attack or even a criticism... just my opinion... sorry you felt that way. *shaking hands* hopefully. I was just sharing my experience. I DID cycle with damsels -- I didn't know any better. Anyway, sorry.

 

[oracledba72]

WOW! There are always people to take things too-far. I was just simply stating that my damn damsel is mean as hell. RELAX! By the way, my yellow tang is fine, they both steer clear of each other. The two dominos still get chased by the yellow tail though. So I don't think i'll be "FLUSHING" anything soon as someone suggested.

 

[demosthenes]

Thank for the apologies and Susiepan, I read your post, and then put up another post, and I thought that I said thank-you or something, but I guess I didn't. I was simply trying to get people who read that post to see my explanation. I figured that if I only put my explanation on that post, anyone who had already read it wouldn't visit it twice. So I made another post so anyone who had read that one wouldn't think of me as a killer anytime I posted, and refuse to help.

 

[shive]

sorry,i just jumped the gun.i reckon with all we read about how people cycle,we just all should assume that they make accomndations for the cycling fish..i should have know better..sorry

 

[ed r]

I missed the original posts (fortunately). However, I would like to address the question of how to cycle without damsels or mollies. I recommend cycling with live rock. Fresh live rock contains a lot of beneficial bacteria to get your cycle going, but also contains sponges and things that will unavoidably die off. This creates enough ammonia for the cycle process without adding dead shrimp or other major sources of decay. Adding live sand also speeds up the cycle. While live sand and rock contain some creatures, there is little in the way of sensitive higher animals that are unnecessarily stressed or killed. For years damsels were used because few knew any better. But now that shouldn't really be necessary.

 

[demosthenes]

I know that. I was simply addressing the fact that some people use them to cycle. I then said that, IMO, they should be returned, or kept in a damsel-only tank, as they can get agressive towards others.

 

[tiffbritty]

i cycled with damsels too . i didn't know either, that it was bad .lfs told me to. i did give them to my freind for his tank and all 9 of them are doing great still. got them last september.

 

[eseow]

Demo, don't take me wrong, I wasn't trying to post an attack. I was just posting what MOST people do with them. As for cycle only fish, yes people due use them as per LFS instructions or recommendations, but at the same time I was just trying to point out to some that most people don't think of them as Reef fish or realize that they are. They build Reef tanks, and place all other types of fish in their tanks, but never ever think about Damsels as Reef inhabitants. Anyway, sorry for the confusion.

 

[oracledba72]

People fly off the hook at newbies like myself for cycling with damsels, some of you admit it you did it too. Wow, some of you say to cycle with dead shrimp, or LR. Well people, what about them, they WERE alive once as well. So you are saying that ONLY fish count and you should just cycle with "OTHER" once alive critters. Hmmm........