Peaceful damsels?
- Thread starter jamest0o0
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An all-damsel tank can be quite beautiful, and honestly, in keeping one, I never knew a damsel to do more than chase, which they do often, but not far from home. They WILL kill members of their own kind; but if you only have one each of damsels and enough room to let them run (they do need space) there are few fish on the reef more variedly colorful and so in motion.
People continually plead for 'schooling fish." Well, if you want the behavior, just get one of each sort of damself, plus a small batch of 1-5 chromis, and turn them loose in a 100 gallon tank. I got a lot of oohs and ahs for that tank, and they were all very inexpensive fish in really fat, good condition, not even a frayed fin in the lot. They're masters of the big demonstration without laying a tooth on the competition. They defend 'their' rock against all comers---yet I never had them bother any of my other fish, including mandarins, scooters, gobies, etc.
Lol! The 'boss hog' of my tank was a near 5" blue velvet with an attitude. Nothing gave it grief.
People continually plead for 'schooling fish." Well, if you want the behavior, just get one of each sort of damself, plus a small batch of 1-5 chromis, and turn them loose in a 100 gallon tank. I got a lot of oohs and ahs for that tank, and they were all very inexpensive fish in really fat, good condition, not even a frayed fin in the lot. They're masters of the big demonstration without laying a tooth on the competition. They defend 'their' rock against all comers---yet I never had them bother any of my other fish, including mandarins, scooters, gobies, etc.
Lol! The 'boss hog' of my tank was a near 5" blue velvet with an attitude. Nothing gave it grief.
Thanks, I have a 39g and was just considering a damsel tank since they have some amazing colors and are cheap 
.
BTW it was a blue saphire, not blue velvet http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+2073&pcatid=2073
Just out of curiosity how many damsels could you sucessfully keep in a 39g?
. BTW it was a blue saphire, not blue velvet http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+2073&pcatid=2073
Just out of curiosity how many damsels could you sucessfully keep in a 39g?
i made the mistake of adding one domino damsel as a tester fish with 4 chromis when my cycle ended.
So far I have added invertibrates, clean up crew, and a pair of young clowns with no problems.
He doesnt even bother the blue/green chromis, so in my experience 1 damsel in a big tank doesnt hurt.
So far I have added invertibrates, clean up crew, and a pair of young clowns with no problems.
He doesnt even bother the blue/green chromis, so in my experience 1 damsel in a big tank doesnt hurt.
sassafrass
New member
Chromis are damsels, In my experience domino damsels will become one of the most aggressive of the damsel family . we had one that when fyull grown killed picasso triggers twice as big as it and was trying to kill a volitans lionfish more than twice it's size!!!
ACBlinky
Premium Member
I think 'peaceful' can be a relative term when it comes to damsels. A blue devil in a 10g with a tiny goby might act like a terror, and a domino (notoriously vicious damsel) in a 300g with larger angels, hawkfish, dottybacks etc. may go nearly unnoticed.
Talbot's damsels are quite sweet-natured, a really nice little fish (1.5" max) and quite pretty too. Mine has never caused a moment's trouble.
Talbot's damsels are quite sweet-natured, a really nice little fish (1.5" max) and quite pretty too. Mine has never caused a moment's trouble.
fatdaddy
New member
All my damsels are model citizens. The only one I had trouble with was a blue fin damsel that was beating up my mandarin. I have:
* 2 blue fin damsels - which are navy blue now.
* 3 electic blue damsels
* 2 mated pair of 4 stripe damsels.
I received a 4th electric blue with a tank and he disappeared. I suspect the electric blue didn't like him, but I never found the body so I can't convict.
* 2 blue fin damsels - which are navy blue now.
* 3 electic blue damsels
* 2 mated pair of 4 stripe damsels.
I received a 4th electric blue with a tank and he disappeared. I suspect the electric blue didn't like him, but I never found the body so I can't convict.
Dave & Monica
New member
Had similar experience with a domino damsel; and although he was an original member, I had to get him out as he became a terror -- to even a naso tang more then twice his size. Green chromis's are great.
