Possible problem arising.....solutions?

[Export Eh]

Hello all!
I'm relativley new to the hobby. I started up a saltwater reef back in May and have been slowly adding to the tank as it matures. This morning as I was standard Sunday morning internetting I witnessed something happen that I've never seen before.

2 weeks ago I bought my first anemone. The LFS said it was a Green BTA, if this is wrong, please correct me

That I bought for these guys, my true Percs

So far they haven't gone into the anemone yet but they are spending more time on the side of the tank its on so not all hope is lost.

This morning though, I noticed this guy

hanging around the anemone and what looked to me to be chasing the Clowns away if they tried to get close. It's the first time I've noticed this and so far the Damsel has been a great tankmate. It was the first fish in the tank and has never shown any aggression towards any of the other fish.

Is it possible that the Damsel has taken a shining to the anemone and is now protecting it? If so, how to fix this so my clowns can get in there? Does the Damsel need a timeout in the sump tank?

Sorry for the longwinded post. I'm bored on a Sunday

 

[bradleym]

I've seen domino damsels take to anemones, but never the yellowtails. They do however sometimes pick a "territory" to defend. I think a timeout in the sump might be your only option if the nem is in his territory.

 

[D-Nak]

I've seen domino damsels take to anemones, but never the yellowtails. They do however sometimes pick a "territory" to defend. I think a timeout in the sump might be your only option if the nem is in his territory.

+1 Sounds like it's a territory issue and the nem just happens to be in the territory. Try moving the anemone, if you can, or move around some of the rockwork if you can't remove the damsel. Personally I'd make every effort to get the damsel though, they are extremely mean and worth removing.

 

[Tmoriarty]

Get rid of the damsel, they will be a hassle in the long run. If you can't catch it a small fly fishing hook will do the trick, if you feel that is mean cut the barb off.

 

[sqwat]

Damsels are also anemone fish like clowns so yes they can and do go into and protect nems.nice looking nem by the way

 

[Export Eh]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I think it's a territory issue by the sound of it. The Damsel has been on the side of the anemone picked since I put it in the tank.

Get rid of the damsel, they will be a hassle in the long run. If you can't catch it a small fly fishing hook will do the trick, if you feel that is mean cut the barb off.

I will try this! Any tips on how to do this? Any particular flies seem to work well? Will the Damsel go for a fly on the surface or does it need to sink?

 

[Export Eh]

Damsels are also anemone fish like clowns so yes they can and do go into and protect nems.nice looking nem by the way

Thank you! I'm quite happy with it! Under the MH's it opens to about the size of a saucer plate!

 

[nbgen12]

Get rid of that damsel asap. You will surely regret it when you cant add more fish 6 months down the road because he will relentlessly go after new fish

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