In defense of damsels.

florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Not wanting to highjack another thread started on this devil fish I have to make a few points in their defense. They must be given the credit they deserve. It takes a lot of smarts to escape from a local fish store hide somewhere on the body of unsuspecting hobbyists, survive the trip home out of water and make their way into our tanks.
Now if you used a damsel to start the cycle of nitrogen in your tank, I say shame of your for using a fish as a sacrificial entity.
Damsels are what they are genetically programed to be. I for one have a damsel in my tank. I am fully aware of their reputation. I know the ability of my other tank inhabitants to stand up to the damsel. I also know what is involved if I need to remove him.
Lastly they may be aggressive but IMO the particular species of damsel I have is anything but ugly.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Joe your damsel is beautiful ..LOL...I have a yellow tail blue damsel in my 225G that is fine, probably cause it is smaller then everything else..LOL
the 3 spot damsels, and many others are mean though....I have no one to blame but myself for buying the 2 I had.....I was new, and had no clue.....
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Damsels are beautiful fish. So are lion fish. If you buy a fish, do your research and get it for the right reasons. My beef is with LFS that don't tell a beginner anything about the fish. It is the cheapest one in the store. Most beginners are already in shock at how much everything costs. They want a pretty fish for the new tank...they buy a damsel, and the rest of the story we know.
I was not told to cycle my tank wih a damsel, I was told after the cycle to buy a cheap fish first, if it makes it, you can buy another fish in a few weeks. My first fish were indeed "cheaper" I bought 2 clown fish for $18.00 each. at least it was a fish I liked.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
My beef is with LFS that don't tell a beginner anything about the fish
And I feel that burden of responsibility rests on the hobbyist. God knows there is enough info out there where an entry level hobbyists should know better but I do see your point in that a beginner would believe what he or she is told at a LFS
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383464/in-defense-of-damsels#post_3354058
And I feel that burden of responsibility rests on the hobbyist. God knows there is enough info out there where an entry level hobbyists should know better but I do see your point in that a beginner would believe what he or she is told at a LFS
YEAH....I definitely don;t blame the guy I got it from.....all I know is I saw a nickel sized cute fish, and he didn't tell me anything about it
I should have known, but admittedly I did not yet
QUIET JOE
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Is this because there are multiple choices to pass the blame to?
Step right up and spin the wheel where it stops no one knows
 
S

smartorl

Guest
I have them in most of my tanks. I typically have bigger, meaner clown pairs in addition to other more aggressive fish in each tank so the actual damsels are model citizens. They are definitely the bullies on the playground unless there is a bigger, meaner fish on the block!
I can't imagine having them in a tank and adding some fire fish though.
 
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