Damsel ID

[bacardi151]

Do any of you know what species of Damsel this might be?
They were sold to me by the local LFS wholesaler as Honey Damsels but they don't appear to match the pics of Honey Damsels that I find on the web.
What else might they be?
I was told that they were a non-aggressive species of damsel and that they would stay small, about 1.5". This is not true. They are now nearly as large as my Yellow Tang and becoming more aggressive. So far, they only harass the Green Chromis' but that could change.
Any and all info would be appreciated...
Thanks in advance!

 

[hedonic]

I think a non-agressive damsel is an oxymoron. There are but differnt shades of agressivness with them. I have seen tiny java damsels tear up fish three times its size, but yet again I have a freind with a large velvet damsel that is the whipping boy of his agressive tank. Its all relative.
I have never heard of 'honey' damsels, and to your lfs credit that is probaly what their invoice called them, so up it went on to the tank. Robert Fenner, in his reef series credits much of the misnaming that goes on with these colloquial terms to wholesalers, the lfs just uses what they come in as. An inept system all the way around no doubt. Anyway, I have no idea as to the specific type of this damsel (maybe someone else can help here) just that they will probaly peak out around 2-3 1/2", stay very terratorial, and pick on new fish. Good luck with 'em!

 

[tizzo]

ooooh, I hate these kinda threads. It goes like this, you ask for an ID, I get on Fishbase.org and start looking. I can't stop until I have looked at every possible genus that I can think of and the whole time I am thinking, "It's a damsel, they are all the same, what's it matter which one it is". Yeah, so after spending the last hour on fishbase (cause I don't know how to let things go), after searching every chrysiptera, dascyllus, abudefduf, chromis, neoglyphidodon, and neopomacentrus, I have narrowed it down (IMO).
The closest pic I could find, the only one with yellow eyes has a more tannish body than yours but the shape is the same as far as I can tell.
Chrysiptera Galba.
Here's a pic. Note, it's not exacly like yours, but it's the closest I could find...

 

[jdragunas]

this one looks more like the same body shape, but on this one, the scales are very distinct, and on yours, it looks more like it's coated in many tiny tiny scales, i'll keep looking...

 

[jdragunas]

oh yeah, it's called Microspathodon frontatus, or guinea damselfish...

 

[jdragunas]

Here's another one that looks a little more like it, and the coloring looks better too, but the tail on this one is forked, and yours doesn't look like it's forked. It's called Pomacentrus emarginatus, or the outer-reef damsel.

 

[jdragunas]

no, i found it. Pomacentrus tripunctatus, aka three spot damsel (although i don't see any spots on yours or on this one... says they're supposed to have a distinct white spot on it's head, and on each side below the fin...). i'm having a really hard time finding info on it...

 

[tizzo]

JD your good!! Never again!! Never again will I try, I'm gonna leave the fish ID's to you...
I didn't even look in that FAMILY!

 

[jdragunas]

lol, well i actually went to that website. fisbase.org, and in the "common name" section, i typed in damsel.

 

[jdragunas]

DON'T GIVE UP!!! never give up!

 

[debbie]

Since you all did a great job at Damsel ID could you ID this one for me?
Sorry to jump in on your post bacardi151.....

I hope you don't mind.
LFS said it was a purple headed damsel, the head is a soft purple, body a very soft yellow and they have a small black dot on either side of the gill. Very beautiful color they are just would like to know what type for sure.
Deb

 

[bacardi151]

Many thanks....
Kinda feeling like an idiot on this one b/c I forgot about fishbase.org. Duh!
Re-adding it to my favorites.

 

[bacardi151]

The "Pomacentrus tripunctatus, aka three spot damsel" appears to be the closest match but neither of mine have the spots. I'll do some more reading, but thanks for the info!

 

[bacardi151]

Originally Posted by Debbie
Since you all did a great job at Damsel ID could you ID this one for me?
Sorry to jump in on your post bacardi151.....

I hope you don't mind.
LFS said it was a purple headed damsel, the head is a soft purple, body a very soft yellow and they have a small black dot on either side of the gill. Very beautiful color they are just would like to know what type for sure.
Deb
I don't mind at all....

 

[jdragunas]

ok, i do not like this fishbase.org website. It's so wacky. They have the same pic listed for 5 different fish. Now that i went back, the three spot damsel has another pic listed under it. I found the pic of what that fish is, but i can't tell you what it is, bacardi. and debbie, i can't find a pic of yours at all... sorry!

 

[debbie]

I found it I found it..........

Yes, thank goodness I read this post. I have been wanting to know what type of damsel I do have. It is called: Chrysiptera rex (Pink Damselfish) does not look pink to me but when I put in Damsel and then hit pictures it is there, do look and tell me if this looks like mine?
The color is bang on and I also notice the tiny black spot on the gill like I mentioned. I am so happy I have finally found the name. Now I can search more on the internet for some better pics.
Deb...... :cheer:

 

[jdragunas]

yes, it does look like it, i see the spot, and the neon-looking stripe over the eye. Congrats!

 

[tizzo]

Originally Posted by Debbie
(Pink Damselfish) does not look pink to me
It says under the description that the juvies are bright pink. Did you get yours as a juvi?

 

[debbie]

No, these ones look just like the picture above. But to find out what kind they were was bugging me, so now I know. What an incredible web site for finding fish. Thanks for posting it.
Deb.......

 

[celacanthr]

Originally Posted by jdragunas
no, i found it. Pomacentrus tripunctatus, aka three spot damsel (although i don't see any spots on yours or on this one... says they're supposed to have a distinct white spot on it's head, and on each side below the fin...). i'm having a really hard time finding info on it...
Hey JD, the reason y u don't see any distinctive spots is because usually they will be named for their juvenile coloration, which usually fades...A LOT...by adulthood
Ex. domino damsels, the kids have a stunning white against that deep black background, but when they grow up, they fade to an ugly grayish! :scared: