The dreaded blue damsel

[brett559]

Every time I go to my LFS, I see a huge tank full of beautiful blue (I think yellowtail) damsels. They are like $4 and are just really pretty.

Most of what I read is that they are really mean and a pain. Yet some people on this forum really like them. I've read that chromis eventually weed themselves down to just one left. Would damsels do the same? Could I get 3 of these little guys and get a little group going, and accomplish what most people try with chromis? Do they get a bad rap because they are considered the almost disposable "cycling" fish. What am I missing?

 

[SoloChromis]

Blue damsels are known to be some of the most aggressive Chrysiptera species available, but honestly if you stock your tank in the correct order they shouldn't be much an issue, I know of plenty of people (even Copps) who keep them without complaints. A lot of the people you see running around spreading the word of the boogie man damselfish are people that decided to get their feet wet with a couple cheap damsels (four/three stripe, blue, bowtie, domino etc.), who then claimed the entire tank as their territory and would ruthlessly weed out any new additions as they perceived them as a threat to their territory. With that being said, Dascyllus (humbug) damsels ARE highly aggressive and I really wouldn't recommend them for any tank besides maybe an aggressive FOWLR setup that needs a few smaller fish darting around. The standard electric blue/blue devil damsel isn't nearly as psychotic and typically won't act too unruly as long as it's added towards the end of your stocking list and the other fish are established. As far as the yellow tail damsels (Chrysiptera parasema), they're pretty harmless, and can be kept with each other as long as the tank is big enough to evenly distribute territory and all fish are added at once. I myself have an azure (very similar to the yellowtails) and he's been a model citizen and I'd highly recommend both species. Good luck, I love damsels and I think that all the damsel hate is silly and ignorant :dance:

 

[brett559]

What do you keep with your damsels?

 

[zooman72]

Good luck, I love damsels and I think that all the damsel hate is silly and ignorant...

Well said...

Behavior has a lot to do with the size of the system, layout of the rockwork, order of introduction, age and sex of the fish in question, tankmates, etc...

YT blue damsels (C. parasema) can actually be quite placid in a larger aquarium, but can also be quite aggressive with less dominant fish in smaller systems.

Blue damsels (C. cyanea) are what most people think of when considering a "blue damsel", and females can also be quite placid when in larger aqauriums. Males can be a bit larger and boisterous (called "blue devils" or orangetail damsels), and especially problematic if kept in very small aquariums.

I too love damsels and keep several species currently in my various aquariums.

 

[Moort82]

Also a fan of damsels and hate that their bad rep is due to ignorance and poor research. Yes there are good and ill advised species but their nature has evolved for a reason. I think the same can be said for several families of fish (like dottybacks which I'm also fond of) and I'm infuriated every time I overhear they are evil, shouldn't be stocked or you'll regret it.
The most natural and impressive tanks I've seen have normally accommodated multiple damsels. I also think people are quick to jump on the bandwagon and dis but are fully prepared to pop something much worse like a powder blue or other large tang into their tank without worry.

 

[pinnatus]

I tried a group of them, they whittled down to one. But I have had that one for well over 6 years. It behaves fine, it will pick on a new fish in its general size range, but otherwise is perfectly fine.

 

[Betta132]

I have a yellowtail blue (not a yellowbelly blue) who's a jerk to small fish added after him. He's a coward, though, and he's not that aggressive. I'd say add one last and don't keep any mini-gobies, and a yellowtail shouldn't be an issue. I do recommend getting at least one, they're very pretty and have some personality.

 

[Dmorty217]

I had a Bluedevil female that was 6 years old before she was accidentally crushed by a piece of rock while catching a fish... She was not aggressive in the least

 

[Sammykonga]

I have 4 Lemon Damsels,Pomacentrus moluccensis, in my 180. They harass any new additions, but quickly calm down. I love them as they are extremely active and swim throughout the rockwork. They even have laid eggs in my tank. Neat animals.

 

[o2manyfish]

As a child 5 decades ago I remember going to the fish store and seeing that one tank packed with all the damsels. Bright colors darting all over the place. For the last 3 decades that I have kept salt tanks, I have always kept at least a couple of blue damsels in my tank.

I find them bright, colorful, and I don't have to worry about overfeeding because they pick up all the extra food. And they are hardy fish that have survived many tank disasters.

In my current reef I have 2 Blue Damsels, 3 Orange Tail Fiji Damsels, 3 Starki Damsels, 6+ Kupang Damsels, 2 Stegassi Damsels, 2 Sky Blue (Ugly Black Damsels) and 8+ springeri. My damsels are bright, bold, and get along with everyone.

I have from the bold and aggressive Purple tang, to the most docile of pipefish. And my damsels are modern citizens.

Dave B

 

[chrislkh]

Blue damsels are hardy. I used to have 3 of them in a 20 gallons when I first start this hobby. They claim different part of the rockwork as their territory and attack any fish swimming by.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Every time I go to my LFS, I see a huge tank full of beautiful blue (I think yellowtail) damsels. They are like $4 and are just really pretty.

Most of what I read is that they are really mean and a pain. Yet some people on this forum really like them. I've read that chromis eventually weed themselves down to just one left. Would damsels do the same? Could I get 3 of these little guys and get a little group going, and accomplish what most people try with chromis? Do they get a bad rap because they are considered the almost disposable "cycling" fish. What am I missing?

I HATE these with a passion! I did something very stupid, I bought one to put in my 200 fowlr and didn't quarantine it. I figured such a small fish couldn't possibly "hurt" anything. Well I was WRONG :mad2:

I'm pretty sure it brought velvet into my system as I lost all of my fish in about a 3 day period. All fish were in excellent condition prior to putting that little SOB in there. Of course it was the only one that lived, even after several months with no pumps or lights or even heater running... IT STILL LIVED.

So, Even though it was my stupidity of putting it in I hate them and will never get another.

Yes they're beautiful alright.

 

[SoloChromis]

What do you keep with your damsels?

Right now I'm just keeping him in a temporary 75g holding tank until I move into my apartment and set up the 120g again, and he's currently living with a percula clown, Springer's dottyback (another very cool fish to check out), and a massive zebra moray. Obviously these 3 fish can hold there own, but I've had this particular guy for about 2 years now and I've kept him with tangs, genicanthus & dwarf angels, basslets, fairy/possum wrasses, a spotted mandarin, neon gobies etc. The only fish I ever saw him give grief to was another azure damsel I tried adding long after he'd been established (the assault victim is now living happily in my Aunt's 90g reef).

 

[SoloChromis]

As a child 5 decades ago I remember going to the fish store and seeing that one tank packed with all the damsels. Bright colors darting all over the place. For the last 3 decades that I have kept salt tanks, I have always kept at least a couple of blue damsels in my tank.

I find them bright, colorful, and I don't have to worry about overfeeding because they pick up all the extra food. And they are hardy fish that have survived many tank disasters.

In my current reef I have 2 Blue Damsels, 3 Orange Tail Fiji Damsels, 3 Starki Damsels, 6+ Kupang Damsels, 2 Stegassi Damsels, 2 Sky Blue (Ugly Black Damsels) and 8+ springeri. My damsels are bright, bold, and get along with everyone.

I have from the bold and aggressive Purple tang, to the most docile of pipefish. And my damsels are modern citizens.

Dave B

Are there any other common names for the stegassi damsel? I tried looking it up on Google and nothing came up

 

[BlueFyre]

I agree damsels get a bad rap. I usually have one in my tank, space permitting. I have had a lot of luck with sapphire damsels and azure damsels. Both have been pretty peaceful. I keep mine with clowns (also damsels), jawfish, firefish, and a shrimp goby without problems.

 

[EI Gringo]

I had 2 lemon damsels and they didn't bother anything, I was told they were peaceful so I took a gamble on them.

 

[johnike]

3 Yellowtails here in a 240 with lots of other fish big and small. Dwindled down from 6 over a period of maybe 5 years. Hardly even notice they're in there.

 

[3dees]

I have two yellowtails in my 120 gal. they each stay on their side of the tank and do not bother any other fish.