Damsel Picking at Coral

[scottio]

Has anyone ever seen a damsel picking at a coral?

I have had a yellow tail damsel for about 5 years now and it never bothered any of my corals. I just saw it nipping at my purple branching monti and that area on the coral is white/dead now and I'm affraid it's going to stress the rest of the coral out.

 

[cloakerpoked]

It's a damsel...I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he's harassing your 25 year old children.

In all seriousness, it's very possible that it could stress the coral out, depending on how big it is. Once they start, they very rarely stop, so the little devil will probably need to start taking up residence in a FOWLR soon. Good luck catching the bugger.

 

[Misled]

It's a damsel...I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he's harassing your 25 year old children.

Now that's funny!!!! :lol:

I really have to agree though. They are very nasty fish whether it be against other fish or tearing up corals. I remember a guy on here that spent a long time trying to catch his. When he did, he ate it because of all the grief the bugger put him through.

 

[hybridazn]

It's a damsel...I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he's harassing your 25 year old children.

:rofl:


never liked these fish, and now there is another reason why lol.

 

[CleveYank]

Other than them biting the hand that feeds them, reason number 536 why I do not have even 1 damsel in my 4 systems.

 

[acer]

Remember clowns are damsels!!! I also have a beautiful 6 line wrasse 3" long that is definitely picking at corals- I cant catch the jerk- otherwise he would be in the refugium. he actually bites/clamps down - and moves the frag. So, have to wedge/glue all frags down. I don't know if he is eating the polyps or just trying to arrange the tank the way he likes. I think there are numerous "reef safe" fish that pick at corals- maybe feeding , maybe bored, maybe eating some bugs.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Chromis are also in the damsel family. When you're talking about domino damselfish, yellow damsels, yellow tailed damsels, figi damsels, velvet damsels etc. those are the ones that will wreak havoc on a tank, owner, tank-mates, coral, etc.