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Opinion on Damsels

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by bobsfish, Feb 3, 2010.

  1. bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    I have avoided getting any damsels due to their aggressive behavior....but, the wife would like me to get a "group" of schooling fish with "color" and lots of swimming action. Green chromis are nice, very available, but not enough color (for what she's looking for). Blue chromis would be great, but you can't find them (unless you order online and I'd like to avoid the shipping costs). So, that takes me back to damsels... color / schooling / action....but, potential nastiness.
    I currently have 2 Ocellaris clowns, yellow clown gobie (tiny guy!), sailfin blenny, royal gramma, and a banggai in a 60g. They all are peaceful and get along pretty well....well, except for the royal gramma who opens his mouth really wide and acts very ferocious, but never causes any real trouble. I'd hate to put a group of aggression in the mix and cause a big problem. I've read on other forums that Starcks damsels are fairly peaceful, but they're also $30 each.
    or...maybe it's not a big deal and adding damsels would be ok....
    Any thoughts or suggestions?
     
  2. pwfish

    pwfish Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    325
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    +49 / 0 / -0
    I would not over look the green chromis, I have metal halides and they almost seem to glow under the lights.
     
  3. acrouse

    acrouse

    91
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    +3 / 0 / -0
    Seascapes in Des Moines has bule reef chromis for $29 each and they are huge but aggressive.
     
  4. Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +33 / 0 / -0

    Chromis do have a nice color to them...I have a small school.

    Oh...and clowns are damsels...[​IMG]
    -Eric
     
  5. wolfman1973

    wolfman1973 Inactive User

    292
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    in my opinion, damsels are like what terriers are in the dog world(not affraid of anything) if there is nothing to keep them in check,they rule!!!
     
  6. vikubz Well-Known ReefKeeper

    734
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +8 / 0 / -0
    Check out the yellow tail blue damsel. Liveaquaria.com billed it as the least aggressive of the damsels (next to chromis) and the one I have has behaved himself nicely. Doesn't bother any of the other tank inhabitants and when I introduced a group of chromis last week it did a little chasing but now has settled in. Might be an option.
     
  7. nick

    nick Well-Known ReefKeeper

    754
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    +5 / 0 / -0
    the chromis are pretty and there are many types. damsels arent treally a schooler as much as what she is looking for. Could try some of the smaller anthias as they stick tighter in a pack. damsels group but not school swim. Or maybe some type of gobys. There are several types as well that swim through the tank and do great in schools.
     
  8. PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

    999
    Ratings:
    +24 / 0 / -0
    Those chromis seem like crappy fish but if you get like 10 of them they are awesome! They glow nuclear under actinics, and they swim so close to the top sometimes you don't even notice them if you don't want to.
     
  9. Troy

    Troy Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    This damsel is often available and reasonably priced. It will work equally well in a fish only tank or a reef aquarium. As they mature many damselfish are noted for becoming rather aggressive and are best not kept with smaller or overly passive tank mates. This species is no exception, it is rather territorial and somewhat aggressive. More than two specimens of this species can not be kept safely together, for they may seriously fight causing severe damaged or death. Provide a rock/ coral decor that has many nooks and crannies for hiding and retreat as this will help avert aggression.
    http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/damsels/StarcksDemoiselle.php

    I like that fish too, well the colors, but I don't think they are really any different then any other damsel. I would look into what nick said with the Anthias. But if you do go with the Damsel, the Yellow Tailed Blue Damsel, is probably one of the most passive out of them all.


    Troy
     
  10. matt1971 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    397
    Waterloo
    Ratings:
    +9 / 0 / -0
    It is neat to see a group of blue or green chromis quickly disappear in a large colony of branching SPS.
     
  11. bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Thanks for all the comments...
    1) I've not seen green chromis under actinics. I've shown my wife pics and she said "not enough color"...but, I might have to reconsider - I personally like green chromis a lot - she wanted a reef tank in her kitchen, so I try to defer to her wish list.

    2) The Anthias is a great idea that I had not really considered....thanks Nick. They're harder to keep than Damsels, obviously, but would be worth the challenge. Biggest issue I can forsee with them is that I've read they should be fed multiple times a day....I feed only once a day. Not sure if that's really a problem or not.

    3) The comments about the yellow-tail damsels being less aggressive than others is good to know....however, Troy's comment about damsels becoming more aggressive as they "mature" is what concerns me...I think adding fish later would be difficult with them in there.

    4) Nick's comment about damsels not truly being a schooling fish is good to know too...sort of makes sense though....they "group" probably cuz they spend all their time chasing each other.

    5) I think the comment about damsels being like the "terriers in the dog world" is a good observation... I'm not a big terrier fan either ! I'm afraid my little yellow gobie would be lunch - he's about as docile as they come.

    6) Really interesting comment about the Blue Chromis...."big" and "aggressive". I knew they got bigger than green chromis, but the aggression is surprising....thought they were supposed to be peaceful. Their coloration is very cool though.



     

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