OK....damsel has got to go!

[islandgirl]

I have a 37 gallon Eclipse tank with ls and lr (14lbs) and 7lbs base rock. I started out with 2 electric blue damsels and 2 yellow tails. Since then I got rid of one of the electric blue and gave it to a friend cause it was seriously bullying one of my smaller yellow tails (that was a task too!). It got to go! Now the other electric damsel is bullying....figures cause I knew THAT was going to happen! Now it got to go! Long story short, I would like to bring some more fish to the tank...maybe a couple of clowns and a dwarf angel, I don't think I should add anymore after that. Will these fish work out fine with the 2 yellow tails already in the tank? Also, I would like to add some cleaners...maybe a sandsifting star, some blue hermies....any other ideas as to what else I can add to my tank as far as cleaners? I definately need to add some more lr to add on to my aquascaping....how much more....maybe 10lbs? My tank is bout cycled....just got to get the trates down to around 10 (20 at the moment)...everything else is on target...pH: 8.0; trites: 0; ammonia: 0. Any ideas on new tank mates....anyone....anyone...

 

[islandgirl]

What about the sandsifting starfish? I hear they do really good with moving the sand around, etc. Do you (or anyone) have any other suggestions for other fish besides clowns for my tank?

 

[mousers68]

I like the blue and red leg hermits. Emeralds are good.
Something I have noticed is if you move your rocks around the damsels will chill out.
I added a clarkii that was larger than the damsels. They are much better. New big bully in the house. If you have a lot of places to have them hide they do better. They love to wind in and out of the rocks.
You may want to have 40-60lbs of rock. It should be the amount of your tank size in weight or up to 2 times the amount. 1.5 times the tank size is a great target.
What kind of filtration are you using? How much sand do you have? You should have 2-4 inch sand bed. LS should be at 40lbs. Sounds like a lot but you will notice a lot of life and a more stable tank.
Are you making it a fish or reef tank?
I am rambling hope this helps

 

[cboyfan2020]

damsels are extremely territorial and adding any fish to a tank that already has damsels is hit or miss but clowns are just big damsels so they might work out. I have a sand sifting star but no DSB and he moves the sand around alot. Bad part is he eats pods so I only have one pod that i have found in my tank.

 

[cboyfan2020]

by the way hermits only kill snails to get their shells when they outgrow their own. throw some various sized empty shells in there and snails should be fine.

 

[aftrhrs]

I was told when I bought the blue leg hermits that I had to keep extra shells in the tank that were bigger than the ones the hermits already had or they would hunt down a snail, drag him kicking and screaming out of his shell, and move on in it.

 

[sinner's girl]

Please make sure the tank is cycled before you add any more fish or inverts. you shouldn't have fish in a tankt that's not cycled to start with.

 

[islandgirl]

Wow...thanks for the replies you guys. In response to mousers68, I've heard the blue and red hermies are pretty good cleaners. The thing about my rock is that I have one HUGE piece and a 7lb piece. Believe you me I have tried to move that 14lb piece around...it's such a beautiful piece of rock but practically takes up all the room! This is why I want to get some more rock to add to the scaping....and maybe like you said...the damsel will chill out! 40-60lbs of rock...wow, that's quite a bit...I mean expensive Although I've seen some of the nice scaping that people have done and it definately gives me the urge to hurrry and get more. Adding more rock at this point...will that make my tank go crazy with the readings....or I should add slowly, that would make more sense. The filtration I'm using is a biowheel (Eclipse III tank), and I have 40lbs ls (probably 3" in depth). I would love to eventually make my tank into a reef but since I am still VERY new at all this, I will be stickin' with fishies only. Sounds like EVERYBODY doesn't take a liking too mixing hermits with snails....I believe I will have one type and not mix the two. I have sea shells in my tank but I don't think that will cut it with the hermits! My tank is pretty much cycled (I cycled with the damsels....don't be mad at me...my lfs said that was fine), I just got to get the nitrates down to about 10 although I talked to a lfs store today and they said inverts can stand it up to 40. So does anyone else have any other suggestions as far as kinds of fish to add....especially if I get rid of the damsels....shoot if I do that I can pretty much get a nice docile assortment!! Hummmm.....

 

[sea goblin]

Ok, from my personal experiance, i like the yellow tail damsels, and mine is about as nice of a little fish as you could ask for, bothers no one, and has quite the personality to him. So i would say based on how your yellow tails act you can keep em'. As far as snail and hermits, i would say go with the scarlet reaf hermits, and what ever mix of snails you want, a nice assortment would be good. You will want to add the inverts slowly though to a new tank to asure that there is enuf food for them all to eat. For other fish to add; clowns are definatley nice, there a ton of awsome wrasses that are really beutifull and reaf safe, just stay away from the cleaner wrasse, as it will probbaly die from lack of food. Lets see, fire fish are always good, lots of differant gobies infact to choose from. Keep clear of madarins though, they have bad survival rates due to lack of food as well. Do some searches on the net and find some specific species and come back with your ideas. It sounds like you are off to a good start.
Sea Goblin

 

[islandgirl]

Thanks Sea Goblin! I like the yellow tails too...they're so....zippy!! I guess what you suggest is to tell the electric blue damsel to get ta steppin'!! Somebody suggested (in another thread I have out there) that I should move some of my rock around and the damsel may leave everybody alone. Although with wanting to put other fish that may not cut it. I think the firefish gobies are absolutely beautiful fish.....I would LOVE to add one to my tank. I think I'm definately adding a pair of clowns (not sure what type though yet). OH, not to worry guys....I'll be adding these creatures VERY slowly! Want to make sure everybody gets their share of food!

 

[bdkdave]

I just removed the 2 original fish from my tank here at work - 2 Honey Damsels. They were too much when I added a Coral Beauty, so the decision on which fish to remove was an easy one! The damsels were moved to a friends tank - not destroyed
I'm sure you'll hear things to the contrary, but my experience has been that the damsels aren't nearly as bad if you only keep one of each type. I have one blue and one three-stripe, and they haven't (as of yet) caused any problems with the clown, chromis, or coral beauty.
Again - not the rule, just what I've observed in *MY* tank. YMMV
bdkDave

 

[saltmarsea]

LOL....Funny Story....at the LFS my sis was talking about how one of her shrimps or fishes was causing a problem (bullying) but she couldn't catch it and asked the Fish Guy at the store.."What can I buy that might Eat it"...LOL The guy at the store replies.."SO ARE YOU PLANNING A HIT ON SOMETHING IN YOUR TANK!" <~ it was followed by lots of laughing....and made a reply "who shall the Hit-Fish be??" Luck to you, Marci

 

[islandgirl]

I guess the thing that I worry about is if I keep the blue damsel, add new inhabs.....the blue may harass them too. He's already got the 2 yellows hovering in one corner....he thinks he owns the WHOLE tank!!! Actually....a "hit" doesn't sound too bad Just kiddin'! I dunno...I guess I can see what happens when I add them. If I added 2 clowns and a firefish with the 3 damsels...wouldn't that be pushin' my load? I could always send "Blue" over to my friends tank...she would take it!

 

[bdkdave]

If the blue has already established himself, your best bet may be to remove it. Besides, even if you don't actually catch it, you'll end up rearranging your tank chasing it!
I was really lucky when netting my 2 damsels- didn't move a single rock.
A friend removed ALL rock from their tank to catch 1 bi-color damsel.
Another possibility is to let your damsel spend a bit of time in a friend's tank, and then move it back to yours. Doesn't disturb your tank, and when it comes back, it'll be new surroundings as if you had changed the seascaping.
Just a thought

 

[islandgirl]

Oh he's established alright...and then some...little bugger!!! I have already caught 1 blue and took it to her tank....I caught the yellows like 3 times accidentally before catching blue....they just wanted to go for a ride in the net or something! I know if I try and catch this guy, it's gonna get rough! bdkDave...I like the way you think...although I'm not sure if my friend will want to give him back once she gets it...which would be fine with me!!

 

[sea goblin]

No problem Islandgirl. It sounds like you should take out the blue for sure, and then go with the clown fish first and then the fire fish if thats what you are looking to do. A pair of clowns, a little old fire fish, and the two yellow tails should be really nice. Lots of colors and action.
Good luck with what ever you decide and keep us posted.
Sea Goblin

 

[islandgirl]

That sounds like a match hopefully made in fish-heaven I think I may just try that...thanks! I will send pictures or keep you guys posted with the new arrivals...once I catch the little bugger!

 

[ty_05_f]

My little yt damsel and clown get along great. Many people have told me to get rid of him b/c he is a damsel, but he turned out to be an awsome fish.

 

[mousers68]

I personally like the damsels that I have. I have one yellow tail and 2-4 stripes. As for the LR, I added 5 lbs at a time after I put 14lbs to begin with. It does spike the levels some but they will go down. Just watch levels for a couple of days and if they get truly crazy do a water change. The rock is expensive so if you need to add it a little at a time do that. You can pick out the rocks that you really like then as well. If it is uncured the levels will spike a lot. You can tell if the rock stinks. I had one with a lot of critters on it that had some die off. (That's kind of what uncured means.) It took a little longer to settle the levels but the peice was so cool I had to get. I like some of the smaller pieces for hiding spots.
I have snails and crabs together and I haven't had any trouble. I am not as partial to snails as I am the crabs. The turbos really keep the glass clean. You can add extra shells if you are concerned.
I hope this is helpful-
If you are wanting to keep the damsels, which I would, I would add the rock and the crabs and snails and shrimp, basically the clean-up crew first then add the other fish.
good luck

 

[islandgirl]

I think I'm am going in the right direction with your answers.....thanks! I'm going to see how the blue damsel acts in the next couple of days when I add a little more lr and some cleaners.....see if more rock keeps him in his own territory and see if he leaves my yellow tails alone