Will a damsel be ok?
- Thread starter yannifish
- Start date
rcoultas
Member
Originally Posted by yannifish
I was thinking a yellow tail. As for fish, I don't have any yet. I am going to get a percula clown, 3 green chromis, a flame angel, a yellow shrimp goby, and a royal gramma. It will be a reef.
1st of all - you do know not to add all these at once, right?
2nd - the damsel will probably not get along with the chromis and are not very friendly fish in general. Other than that your list looks good with the exception of the chromis which would be better in a group of five or six as they are schooling fish.HTH
I was thinking a yellow tail. As for fish, I don't have any yet. I am going to get a percula clown, 3 green chromis, a flame angel, a yellow shrimp goby, and a royal gramma. It will be a reef.
1st of all - you do know not to add all these at once, right?
2nd - the damsel will probably not get along with the chromis and are not very friendly fish in general. Other than that your list looks good with the exception of the chromis which would be better in a group of five or six as they are schooling fish.HTH
drose
Member
I have 2 yellow-tail damsels (they were my first) as I was told they were sturdy fish for a first timer. That is true but they are very difficult on other fish and on the tank. I had to separate them early on as one was a complete bully and had the other in constant hiding. The "bully" has been living in my QT ever since, which means, of course. I don't have a QT anymore. The other gets along with my other fish (1 flame angel, 1 true percula, 1 lawnmower blenny & 1 royal gramma). He and the angel vied for dominance but he, unlike the angel, antagonized the other fish, except for the percula who made friends with everyone. Several months ago, he banged is eye on a rock (probably while fighting the angel), had a pop-eye for a couple of weeks and now is blind in that eye. since then the angel is the dominant one and the other fish are no longer harried by the damsel. Above, I mentioned that damsels are hard on the tank. I say this because they like to dig holes by swooshing their tails in the sandbed. If you've placed your rocks on top of the sand this could cause them to shift and fall, potentially damaging corals, etc.. (luckily, my rock was inserted first onto the tank bottom, and the DSB placed in after). It also creates a mess in your filters with all the sand kicked up, not to mention ruining your carefully crafted tank design. If I had known then what I know now, I would not have gotten any damsels!! But if your determined on having one, do you want one of mine?
donald
Member
I have a yellow tail and a beau gregory (I think) the beau chases the yellow tail all over, please don't get a blue devil! They are the spawn of the devil. the yellow tail just wants to hang out in a little hole in my LR but NOOO the dang beau wont leave him alone! I think someone will be taking a ride to the LFS verrrry soon. (as soon as I can catch the dang thing!) but I think yellow tails are about the least aggressive of an aggressive breed.
ninjamini
Active Member
damsel are territorial and will defend there home. That means that they will not be nice to other fish. Get em if you want but in 8 or so months you will be asking ...
"How do I get a damsel out of a 55 reef? Do I need to take the tank apart?"
Read: This will answer your question in 8 months
.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/284279/damsel-catching
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/280771/damsel-causing-distress
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/279468/whats-the-tricks-for-catching-3-damsels
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/273982/help-catching-damsel
"How do I get a damsel out of a 55 reef? Do I need to take the tank apart?"
Read: This will answer your question in 8 months
.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/284279/damsel-catching
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/280771/damsel-causing-distress
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/279468/whats-the-tricks-for-catching-3-damsels
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/273982/help-catching-damsel
grabbitt
Active Member
Originally Posted by ninjamini
damsel are territorial and will defend there home. That means that they will not be nice to other fish. Get em if you want but in 8 or so months you will be asking ...
"How do I get a damsel out of a 55 reef? Do I need to take the tank apart?"
Read: This will answer your question in 8 months.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...ghlight=damsel
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...t=damsel+catch
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...t=damsel+catch
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...t=damsel+catch
Ohhhhh boy that brings back painful personal memories...
damsel are territorial and will defend there home. That means that they will not be nice to other fish. Get em if you want but in 8 or so months you will be asking ...
"How do I get a damsel out of a 55 reef? Do I need to take the tank apart?"
Read: This will answer your question in 8 months.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...ghlight=damsel
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...t=damsel+catch
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...t=damsel+catch
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...t=damsel+catch
Ohhhhh boy that brings back painful personal memories...
Originally Posted by rcoultas
. Other than that your list looks good with the exception of the chromis which would be better in a group of five or six as they are schooling fish.HTH
Chromis should be kept in odd numbers. 3 of them will do fine together. I've had 3 in my 75 for the last 2 years and they get along great and school together.
. Other than that your list looks good with the exception of the chromis which would be better in a group of five or six as they are schooling fish.HTH
Chromis should be kept in odd numbers. 3 of them will do fine together. I've had 3 in my 75 for the last 2 years and they get along great and school together.
A
azul1994
Guest
Why not just give the clown a friend and skip the damsel?
gmford1979
Member
As the president of the "No Damsel Club" i strongly recommend you not getting one. they are territorial, mean, and will kill your fish. i had a $3 three stripe that killed well over $200 worth of fish before i finally broke down my tank to get him out. i tried everything possible to get him out, and didn't work.
take my advice, and others, DO NOT PUT IT IN THERE. you will regret it
take my advice, and others, DO NOT PUT IT IN THERE. you will regret it
frankthetank
Active Member
Let me add to this thread by saying... I think Damsels are very beautiful fish! They're colors are bright and pop out at you. They are very sturdy fish and do well for people who are inexperienced in the saltwater hobby.
But I encourage you to listen to the other posters here. If you want to have other fish in your reef tank... do not get a damsel. I too started out with a damsel last year. I just reaquascaped my tank and am building a sump. While I was reaquascaping I scooped my domino damsel (who I think are the worst at being territorial) and took him to my fish store. I gave him away. Of course they cost no more than 4 or 5 bucks.
Stay away!! Get a TWO perculas... or how bout a royal psuedo? I have one of those, and he's gorgeous! Throw a scooter blenny in there! I think they have great personalities. Maybe a gobie?
But I encourage you to listen to the other posters here. If you want to have other fish in your reef tank... do not get a damsel. I too started out with a damsel last year. I just reaquascaped my tank and am building a sump. While I was reaquascaping I scooped my domino damsel (who I think are the worst at being territorial) and took him to my fish store. I gave him away. Of course they cost no more than 4 or 5 bucks.
Stay away!! Get a TWO perculas... or how bout a royal psuedo? I have one of those, and he's gorgeous! Throw a scooter blenny in there! I think they have great personalities. Maybe a gobie?
coraldude
Member
Originally Posted by ninjamini
damsel are territorial and will defend there home. That means that they will not be nice to other fish. Get em if you want but in 8 or so months you will be asking ...
"How do I get a damsel out of a 55 reef? Do I need to take the tank apart?"
I am asking this question right now. In my experience Damsels are hit or miss. Some of them will be fine, but others are the saltwater offspring of satan. I've had Damsels in the past that wouldn't hurt a copepod.
I had the same idea that you do. I really like Domino Damsels and right now I have a one that was added as the last fish in a 55Gal. This fish attacks EVERYTHING else in the tank. I'm trying to find a way to get it out. I've tried everything with no luck. In other words, if you really want a Damsel then get one, but be prepared for the worst.
damsel are territorial and will defend there home. That means that they will not be nice to other fish. Get em if you want but in 8 or so months you will be asking ...
"How do I get a damsel out of a 55 reef? Do I need to take the tank apart?"
I am asking this question right now. In my experience Damsels are hit or miss. Some of them will be fine, but others are the saltwater offspring of satan. I've had Damsels in the past that wouldn't hurt a copepod.
frankthetank
Active Member
The Domino is one of the most aggressive Damsels there are. I just took mine out a few days ago. You won't get him out unless you tank your tank apart. I decided to scrape some coraline and reaquascape so I caught him during the process.