In passionate defense of damsels...

[Sk8r]

I love these little beggars. They're inexpensive, colorful, quirky, and full of personality.

Chromis and clowns are of the type, but are not so often maligned.

In fact it's the treatment of damsels that gives them such a bad reputation. I say that I love these fish: I used to maintain a mostly-damsel tank. I had over 100 gallons, and the tank supported a blue velvet, a domino, five chromis and a blue devil quite nicely, along with softies, a dwarf angel, several blennies, a gramma, and several dragonets---two clowns early on, but they retired to breeding: too big and rowdy. The stars of the tank, the ones people noticed most and liked most, were the damsels. And they used every inch of that tank. They were personable, they sniped at each other, but never at the uninvolved species, and they kept everything moving. Have a spat breaking out with the blennies? They were instantly distracted with the damsels---who were always going somewhere. Can I keep them now? No. I have a 54 gallon tank, and it wouldn't be kind.

IMHO the damsels usually listed as damsels should be sold only for hundred gallon and above. Just my opinion; but I had those fish for a decade before I sold the whole rig (and them) in a cross-country move; and if I had my choice now of what fish I would have---I'd have pretty much damsels, a pair or so of (different!) dragonets, blennies, and gobies.

 

[Angel*Fish]

For the vast majority I couldn't agree more :thumbsup: Here were my little damsels - stunning color and sweet little fish. (lost them to Hurricane Ike). This species is quite peaceful. The bigger the tank the more peaceful, lol

 

[lvpd186]

I have to say I love the bright blue color of my damsel, but I sure hate how he goes after every new fish... and my hand . Even though I know it's not going to hurt, it still scares the crap out of me every time I see him getting ready to attack me :lol: .

 

[Dejavu]

I would have to agree. I had a group of yellow tailed damel in my old 90 gal that i sold when i moved. Out of all the fish in that tank that i no longer own and miss the most, I would have to say it is them.

 

[ritter6788]

IMHO the damsels usually listed as damsels should be sold only for hundred gallon and above.

:worried: There are damsel police now!!!??? J/k of course...(no I'm not). I like the damsels also. The colors on some of them are better than a lot of fish that are more desirable in reef tank. My only experiences with them are 2 three stripe damsels that constantly harrassed each other but none of the other fish and a sgt. major that chases a blue damsel all day but doesn't bother the six line wrasse in the tank with it. The blue damsel really stands out in the tank.

 

[kingfisher62]

I have always like one or two yellow tailed damsels in my tanks. they too have been pretty mellow.

 

[ritter6788]

Notice how everyone likes the yellow tails? They aren't nearly as aggressive as some of the other damsels. My sgt. major won't come too close but it will square off with my 4 inch peacock mantis. That fish isn't afraid of anything, except for my fish net.

 

[xxtriggermanxx]

I love my rex's . I do think a larger tank makes a difference. my pair chase each other all over my 265. and leave all the rest of their tank mates alone. don't seem to be to large ether. around 3 inches. and have kept all of their color !

 

[LemonLemon]

i have a chrysiptera rollandi, chromis vanderbilti and chromis retrofasciata.

and i love them to bits

 

[Patroklos]

Talbots.

The model citizen. I kept two in a 65 and never had a problem. Great colors too, though not as bright as others.

 

[Noobeef]

I have mixed feelings on damsels. I have a "œspunky" yellow tail damsel named Clyde. He/she is one of 3 fish in my 120 gallon tank. He left the lawnmower blenny alone from the get-go, but the tomato clown was tortured for the better part of a week before the damsel convinced him that a 3 cubic inch area of water in the corner of the tank was sufficient for him to live the rest of his life. This was only after he killed an ocellaris clown. He is easily the most interesting of the 3 fish. He watches me as much as I watch him. I will be watching TV only to look over and see him staring at me. He reminds me of African cichlids I've had in the past in freshwater tanks.

I really like him, but I know that adding a 6-line wrasse or firefish will be a huge problem as long as he's in the tank. I am not going to have a 120 gallon reef tank with 3 fish. Lol Catching him would also be a pain. I've thought about catching him, adding the wrasse and firefish while keeping him in the sump for a week or so then putting him back in after the other two fish have found their way in the tank. Of course that assumes I can even catch him without tearing the tank apart.

 

[Sk8r]

Easiest way to catch one is with a feeding bottle: large-mouthed jar (we used the bell jar of an Anniversary Clock, which didn't hurt the clock at all) or a liter wine carafe and a big net. Feed some sort of sinking lusciousness in the jar---Mr. Owns-everything will go for it, you pop the net over the opening of the jar, and you' ve got him. It often works on dominant fishes. I have also used the fast-tank-drain method (that, to catch a dottyback)...

 

[Sk8r]

The rowdier damsels: clowns...my Clarkii's drew blood (on me) quite often.
Beyond them...the blue velvet damsel, which definitely ruled the tank and was consequently fat as a tuna...and the sergeant-major, which is a notorious quarrelsome sort: the domino would stand up to him.

A note: Seattle Aquarium has what looks like a domino the size of a dinner plate---in the big water dome display.

 

[Floowid]

Preach on Sk8r. My Fiji Blue Devil is one of my favorite fish, have had her for over 5 years. You just don't see that sort of brilliant blue on a lot of fish.

 

[Beaun]

I've been considering adding a Starki to my tank as the last fish, beautiful little damsel.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I I will be watching TV only to look over and see him staring at me.

That is so funny. He's plotting! :lol:

The rowdier damsels: clowns...my Clarkii's drew blood (on me) quite often.
Beyond them...the blue velvet damsel, which definitely ruled the tank and was consequently fat as a tuna...and the sergeant-major, which is a notorious quarrelsome sort: the domino would stand up to him.

A note: Seattle Aquarium has what looks like a domino the size of a dinner plate---in the big water dome display.

And who said it was just tangs

I've been considering adding a Starki to my tank as the last fish, beautiful little damsel.

Lovely fish but I'm not sure what it would be like to have a fully grown adult. Supposedly they get up to 4 in. I know every body's tired of my pushing the C. hemicyanea's but their maximum size is 2.4 inches. A desirable trait in a damsel imho.

 

[Romewhip]

I love damsels! One of my favorite groups of fish. I've had a Fiji Blue Devil for a long time, a canary damsel, a four stripe, and a tomato clown all living together fairly peacefully. They are active, funny, and always engaging. Along with the small angelfish definitely the most entertaining.

 

[pinnatus]

I like em too. Most people love clowns, and hate damsels. HELLO - clowns are damsels.

That being said, I got rid of my tomato clown that insisted on attacking me every time I put my hand in the tank.

I recently tried to have a school of blue devils, but they whittled their way down to just one.

 

[brian15876]

extremely hardy fish too, first time i had started a stank the guy at my lfs referred to them as "sacrificial fish", haha and he was right, a few died but most lived and i kept for many many years after that

 

[jarrod13]

I have two yellow-tails and a blue devil in my 220, love the way they put a splash of color and movement in the tank.

I also have two azures in my 37 reef. Once again, great color and always going in and out of the rocks, love them

I want to put a male blue devil with the orange tail with my female, does anybody know if they would pair up or just kill each other?