I purchased a couple tiny damsels...a domino and a devil (blue devil or something like that). My other fish have been in the tank for almost a year (yellow tang, blue tang, two ocellaris clowns). All my current fish are way bigger than these two damsels. I was gonna put damsels in sump, but wondering if it would be ok to put them in DT since they are so small...could they really pick on the other, much larger, fish?
Damsels
- Thread starter dankoos
- Start date
Microcosmos
Member
The blue devil stays tiny, so won't mess with the others beyond simply annoying them. The domino gets pretty large, about the size of a teacup saucer, but since you are introducing it at a tiny size and the other fishes are much larger it shouldn't be a problem for a while, if ever. Just don't expect to be able to introduce any new smaller fish that swim in the middle (damsel territory now). Bottom dwellers like blennies or hawkfish should be fine.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
Why, why and why?
Angel*Fish
cats and large squashes
There are very pretty peaceful damsels that stay small. That domino is asking for trouble.
I like damsels. Based on the feedback though, domino will stay in 55 gal sump (at least until he grows big, then will have to give him away) and devil can go into DT?
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Even very small damsels are willing and capable of harassing much larger fish to a deadly level of stress. In the confines of a tank, the victim can't get away from the little bastards. I've seen this in my tank; and the number of these things happening is a regular topic on any forum. I would never put any damsel into any tank, except as a food item. I would bet the farm that damsels are responsible for more frustration in our hobby than any other fish X10. "How to get damsels out of a DT" is a very common question.
Angel*Fish
cats and large squashes
That's really not fair to lump all damsels into one category. It depends on the species..
MrTuskfish
Team RC
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Of course you're right. Maybe I was a bit too quick & sarcastic; just trying to make the point that many (most?) damsels are really fish to be avoided and they are all to often sold to beginners who have no idea what they're getting. Most of the $5 LFS damsels are trouble (IMO&IME) and some stores still them as starter fish. But, there are species that make great community fish. At least that's what I've read, I'll admit to never having kept any "nice" ones.
Kahuna Tuna
Active member
All damsels are not created alike, some of them are unholy terrors and others quite passive. I am very fond of the genus Chrysiptera and keep a pair of yellowtail blues in my 180 display. This genus, also often known as Demoiselles is one of the less aggressive but they are still damsels after all and can become quite aggressive depending on the circumstances, my female is a total b@#*%on wheels whan she is guarding a clutch of eggs and will go after even my majestic and meridithi angels if they get too close to their nest. The Talbot's damsel, also from this genus is my all time favorite, very social and peaceful for a damsel.
I agree with the others, that domino is gonna be trouble one day.
I agree with the others, that domino is gonna be trouble one day.
Stuart60611
New member
Ya, I think yellowtails are some of the most attractive of the damsels. They also maintain their coloration throughout adulthood. I would not recommend them for a very peaceful tank, but in an aggressive to semi-aggressive system they do quite well. I have a single yellow tail in my semi-aggressive fowlr who is approaching the size of a quarter. He holds his own with the big boys and does not cause any trouble except he has been known to lash out at my toby puffer when the toby wanders to close to his cave. No major aggression or injury to the toby, but a definite spirt of aggression from the yellow tail. They are pretty fearless and will swim out in the open even in the presence of much larger and fairly aggressive fish, such as thasolomma wrassess, triggerish, tusks, etc. Plus, they only cost $5.00.
