Thoughts on Blue Velvet Damsels

[littlebigaj]

I've heard mixed things about the Blue Velvet Damsels, and I would really like to keep a school of them in a 125 gallon reef tank.

1. Do they in fact lose all of their color and turn black? I've heard of people keeping them years and them still maintaining their color.

2. Are they very aggressive? They'd be put in with a couple clowns, mandarin, and tangs.

 

[4wheelvfr]

Without looking in my Scott Michael book, I'm pretty sure they lose their color when they attain adulthood and from most accounts turn very aggressive. Again, without looking so I'm not 100% I think they get around 4-5in which is a pretty decent size. If you're set on these, I think I would get just one, otherwise there are neater damsels out there that aren't so mean and drab.

I think a good alternative would be a Golden Domino or Margined Domino. They also get fairly aggressive but are relatively attractive, even into adulthood.

 

[stubby 58]

Devil fish !

 

[Chihuahua6]

They becme very aggressive and do eventually lose their blue lines. I think the color loss takes a while though. Suitable tankmates for a mature BV Damsel would be triggers and other large aggressive fish. They do not school and would kill each other off leaving you with one to several.

There are some great Damsels for a community tank. Here's a list off the top of my head of mor peaceful ones. I don't have the scientific names on hand:
Yellow Tail
Hemicyanea
Parasema
Talbots
Canary

I have experience with all of the above except for the Talbot's Damsel but have heard from many refers who keep them. I think eight of any of the above species would do well in your tank provided you have a decent amount of rockwork. They do like to claim their own little section of the reef.