How awful are blue damsels?

SoloChromis

SoloChromis

New member
My peacock mantis shrimp just passed away from a freak accident (looking at him, I've concluded he must've struck his left side by accident when turning around in his burrow), and have decided to tear his tank down temporarily to free up some space in my apt. Problem is, there's an orangetail blue damsel that currently lives in the there and I'm debating on switching him over to the 60g cube. He's always been the sole fish in his tank, so I don't have any first hand experience with mixing blue damsels with other fish in an average sized tank. Would he be a nightmare even if added last? Here's my planned eventual fish list for the 60g...

(2) Springer's Damsels
(2) Kamohara Blennies
(1) Zebra Moray Eel
(1) Leopard Wrasse (female)
(2) Orange Skunk Clowns
(2) Stippled Clingfish
(#) Basslet (between the royal gramma and black cap)
(#) Possum Wrasse (possibly)

... Would he make it hell on earth for them in there? The tank is 2'x2'x2' tall. I know the simple solution would be to drop him off at the LFS but I know from experience what often happens to relinquished damsels (*insert predator fish* chow, euthanasia, or given to people to cycle a tank). I'm not here to start any sort of ethics debate, I just personally feel morally obligated to provide the best care for any animal that enters my care (even if he's a bit of a ***** :debi:). Any experiences with blue damsels (Chrysiptera cyanea)?
 
Not on the list, but my starcki gets put in its place by my regal angels. Usually, when the smaller regal was chased off by the larger she vents it on the starcki when he doesn't go out of her way. That regal is just a tailfin length longer that the starcki, so less than equal to a damsel (who have usually no issues in taking on much larger opponents).
 
SoloChromis said:
I know you have a naso or 2, the idol, and a few angels, do you know how he'd fit in with some smaller, more timid fish? Thanks :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

He will give a newcomer a hard time, but really, after an acclimation period, he doesn't bother anyone. Fish his own size are more of a problem than the bigger fish, and he does live in a 240 so there is lots of space for him. In a smaller tank with smaller fish, he may be more of a problem, after all, he is a damsel. And when I got him, I got 6, which slowly whittled down to just one. So likely he killed at least one of his brothers.

I have royal grammas which are about his size, and he doesn't bother them. Overall he is a peaceful fish. He is at least 7 years old now, probably closer to 8 or 9.

 
ThRoewer said:
Not on the list, but my starcki gets put in its place by my regal angels. Usually, when the smaller regal was chased off by the larger she vents it on the starcki when he doesn't go out of her way. That regal is just a tailfin length longer that the starcki, so less than equal to a damsel (who have usually no issues in taking on much larger opponents).
Click to expand...

I love the Starckis, gorgeous fish. The closest I ever came to having one was when I had my LFS hold one for like 3 days and he went belly up in that time :( If I stumble upon a nice looking specimen, I'd be hard pressed to say no (I'd make it work) :beer:
 
I love these guys. Never had any real issues with them, especially if the other fish are already established. I plan on adding a male and 4-5 females to my 340 gallon for a splash of color.
 
I recently added an orange tail blue damsel to my 180 gal reef and now regret it. It harassed an Allen's damsel that has now disappeared. It also killed a Rolland's damsel. All my damsels were peaceful and this guy came in and rocked the boat. He also harasses some of my anthias and even chases some of my wrasses. I have a large Stark's damsel and a azure damsel that it leaves alone. They are individuals in personality because I had an orange tail damsel some years ago that was completely peaceful. In hindsight I would not add it again and I may have to figure out a way to get it out of the tank.
 
The only issue I ever had with them was when it came time to remove them from the tank. I almost had to tear the entire tank apart to catch them.
 
As long as he's one of a kind, should do fine. The blue devils are actually a pretty mild sort in 100 gallons, and should be ok in a 60 as long as he doesn't feel crowded. Your other fish are smallish sorts, many of species damsels don't even seem to see in passing.
 
All damsels and "chromis" are terrible. I have two small black and yellow stripes chromis that have become terrors. They have gone months without eating because they know if they come out or the rock work they are getting the net.


Thy have killed off almost all other fish in my system other than my clowns that I've had for 5 years
 
That's because the clowns are damsels. But the black and yellow stripe is curious. What popular name, do you know?
 
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