Aggressive yellow domino damsel

Kluver

New member
I just got a great looking leopard wrasse and as soon as I introduced him into the tank the yellow domino damsel started to chase and even attacked him. No sooner than 10 mins later the poor wrasse was up in the corner with his fins all torn. I quickly removed the leopard and he's in my sump for now. Is there any possible way to reintroduce him again without this episode happening again? My suspicion is that it will happen again. Should I try at night? Any ideas? If not, than what's the best way to get the damm damsel out? I have a 65g mixed reef and plenty of rocks. :angryfire:
 
You could swap the Domino into the sump for a while to get your wrasse acclimated, but the Dominos can be a problem with each new introduction. I don't have enough information on what else, if anything, you would like to stock the aquarium with along with what's in there right now... so i'll take the position of permanent removal since these are amongst the most aggressive and territorial of the damsels (which is already a tough group) and I am assuming that the Yellows are along the same lines as the regular dominos.

I think it's worth a try off the bat to just try and net it out. Using flake food, you can get the damsel up to the surface. Just use the largest net you can get away with and be quick (i've used this to get two yellow tail damsels out of a 125 reef in a lfs before. After that, depending on how you have structured your rock work, try to divide it with egg crate and remove the side needed into some buckets until he is able to be netted. It sounds like a lot of work but really only takes minutes. If yours has an affinity for going into holes or caves, you could try putting in a conch or whelk shell. When he inspects it, quickly remove (i did this to get a flame angel out of that same 125gal reef).

I like to net feed my fish. I thaw frozen food, strain it into a net and then dip the net into the tank. The fish loose their fear of the net and become easy to remove in the future. Takes a while, but they come around.

Hope this helps and good luck to you.
 
Domino damsels can be brutally aggressive. If you remove him, I'd plan on just trading him into a store. You might get a few weeks of peace if you put him back in, but it won't be too long before the damsel is beating on everything else again.

I also like the net feeding technique (can also use a specimen container in the same way).
 
Domino damsels can be brutally aggressive. If you remove him, I'd plan on just trading him into a store. You might get a few weeks of peace if you put him back in, but it won't be too long before the damsel is beating on everything else again.

I also like the net feeding technique (can also use a specimen container in the same way).

Exactly. They are vicious fish.
 
I agree get it Out ASAP ! Use a 2 ltr plastic soda bottle . Cut the top off fill it around put some frozen food in the bottle and get that fish oh of your tank!
 
Quick update--broke down my tank and got the damsel out the hard way. I'm much happier. From now..we will have a peaceful and loving community.. LOL
 
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