Damsels

[molly]

I have to admit that I really like the blue damsels. I currently have two Clowns and a Cardinal fish and plan on adding a Royal Gramma. If I added a blue damsel as my last fish would all hell break loose?
I have a thirty gallon with thirty pounds of lr, small clean-up crew etc. I also realize that my tank may never be able to sustain a 5th fish but I want to know my options.
Opinions?
Thanks in adance.
Molly

 

[jacksonpt]

The only problem might occur if the damsel gets territorial. They are known to be aggressive fish, but adding it last could help somewhat. Probably going to be a toss up though... depending mostly on the personality of the fish you get.

 

[madd catt]

The damsels that i have [green cromis]did bother other fish [royal gramma] but oddly enough dose not go after [lawnmower or canary blenny]?.

 

[flameangel]

From my personal experience as well as a close friends, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I wouldn't do it. One killed her cowfish and terrorized all the others. He killed my firefish and terrorized all the others. They are a very pretty fish, but if you want to get one, stand by with a net handy ready to get that sucker out. It's all up to you, but your fish are prob similar in size to the blue damsel, right? He will bug the bejeezus out of the others if he is like the one's my pal and I had! I'd go with the green chromis and do a school of them if you had enough room.

 

[fender]

That is a lot of fish for a 30. The Damsel is likely to be a pest even with more room. I had three damsels in a 90 and they fought - until I got rid of all of them.....

 

[starfishjackedme]

Even in my 200 the Blue Damsels are very territorial. It is kind of like Russian Roulette if you put him in there.

 

[molly]

Well then.
Any suggestions for a small, passive fish with no heavy duty requirements (like the blennies who could starve) or bizarre behavioral traits (like the firefish who jump)?
Molly

 

[fshhub]

green chromis, or even blues(chromis), they are IMO pretty(under good lighitng even more so) fish and are fairly hearty, i have never seen or heard of any probs, except the one listed above, not ever, so his is probably an isolated incident, wiht any thing in marine aquariums, there is always the one exception to all the rules, so i really doubt that you would have any problems with them
damsels are the most aggressive fish we cna get(with the exception of clowns and chromis), pound for pound, they are very territorial in most instances, and a small tank does not help any, they in the wild occupy a very large territry(mosta re over 6 cubic feet, so almost any aquarium is small to them)
OOOOOOOOPS, i missed that, if you are going to add any more fish, i would do so cautiously, you already have 11 inches, and are planning on a royal gramma, this would definitely be a bit much for a 30 gallon, actaully i woudl probably not add more at all
HTH and good luck

 

[marine fanatic]

If you decide to add a blue damsel, try to buy one that is alot smaller than your smallest fish. That will help prevent any aggression towards your existing critters. It may still end up being aggressive but it's a crap-shoot because they can be docile OR mean.

 

[striker]

In my 29gal I have a blue damsel, percula and sebae clownfish and a royal gramma. They all get along pretty good. The sebae is the toughest and the royal gramma is territorial when it comes to my shrimp and starfish.

 

[molly]

Welp. Since I can't decide what to get for a 5th fish I decided why try to keep a 5th fish in a 30 gallon, anyway?
So I'm just getting the Royal Gramma in a month or so and stopping with the fish.
Can I add a couple of peppermint shrimp to my tank before I add the last two fish or should I wait until all fish are added? I know invertebrates are more sensitive to a rise in nitrates.....so should I wait until all fish are in there before adding them or will it not matter all that much? My nitrates have never been higher than 10. YET.
Thanks!
Molly

 

[molly]

Also, where do you guys get your fish measurement? I thought false percs and cardinals got to be about three inches?
Are there any web sites with good charts?
Thanks!
Molly

 

[fshhub]

you can addd your inverts before during or after your other fish, jsut so long as your tankis cycled and stable
FLASE percuals get to be 4, the trues get 3, and i think begaiis get 3 but i have seen some that i think were bigger(only a little)
as for info, many have books and many of them are known, there are some fish that none of us have or know and those we eithere wait for others on or have to go look for(search engines can be great here adn google is a godsend)

 

[karvis]