Should I remove my black and white damsel? v.territorial

Ktreece · 06/10/2009, 02:29 PM

I have had my tank setup for about 3 months now. I don't want to move to any other fish until I really get the hang of things. I have 3 damsels (Two blue w/ yellow tail and one black and white striped damsel). The other two damsels sit on opposite corners and I rarely see them come out for food. The Black and White damsel paces the whole tank and he's the only one that eats. Should I get rid of him?

Tank is a 30 gallon.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/10/2009, 02:33 PM

Actually, you'll want to remove all three damsels. They have already established territory in the tank will bully any new additions to death. Especially in that size tank. Note that I didn't say might bully a new addition, but that they will bully them to death.

cdbias2 · 06/10/2009, 02:55 PM

Sugar is correct!

Ktreece · 06/10/2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sugar Magnolia
Actually, you'll want to remove all three damsels. They have already established territory in the tank will bully any new additions to death. Especially in that size tank. Note that I didn't say might bully a new addition, but that they will bully them to death.

The other two seem shy so I figured they wouldn't bother anything. In a 30 Gallon tank, what are my options? I would like a tang, but I don't think that will fit. What are some options?

Ohiomom · 06/10/2009, 03:11 PM

for sure no tang will do..gobies, maybe clownfish..few other choices but when the three stripe is removed, the yellow tails will become more bold they are just being bullied right now.

Ktreece · 06/10/2009, 03:16 PM

What's the size recommendation for a Picasso trigger?

VacavilleFC3S · 06/10/2009, 04:04 PM

for any trigger or tang you need 90g at the least and that is pushing it

platinumck · 06/10/2009, 07:02 PM

You have 3 super aggressive fish. I learned the hard way and had one 1" Damsel torture my 4" Heniochous banner fish to death. Needless to say I yanked him.

I would pull all 3 Damsels and take them back to the LFS. Maybe try 2 mated Ocellaris Clowns or 2 different pygmy Angels like a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty.

otrlynn · 06/10/2009, 08:10 PM

Once the damsels are out, other possible fish would be clownfish, a chalk bass, royal gramma, gobies, and firefish. The last two are known jumpers, so a cover is a must. Look in the Nano forum, or I believe Liveaquaria has a "Nano" fish section. I think that a 30 would be at the larger end of the Nano category.

thegrun · 06/10/2009, 09:31 PM

Even amongst other aggressive damsels, convict damsels (black striped damsel) are aggressive. they get large quickly and will eventually kill every other tank inhabitant. I'd get all three out and then get less aggressive fish.

Ktreece · 06/10/2009, 11:22 PM

I plan on picking up a larger tank sometime soon. I've had this tank quite a while, it's just not been used in 5 years. I really don't want to go with clowns. Maybe I should just look into a bigger tank first.

PRDubois · 06/10/2009, 11:27 PM

The blue and yellow ones should be fine. Mine have no problem with the other fish. The Black & White probaly has stripes.

Striped Damsels are very agressive. In FW about the same as a tiger barb or convict.

je339999 · 06/11/2009, 02:02 AM

i added two sebae clowns to a 30 gal. that already contained 3 blue damsels (devils). the sebae were both over 1 1/2" in size and they fended for themselves just fine. the blue damsels actually get out of their way! the blue damsels arent as nasty as the striped i think. my point is you may not have to get rid of your damsels, depends on what you add for other fish.

06/10/2009, 02:29 PM	#1
Ktreece Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ft. Smith, Ar Posts: 155	Should I remove my black and white damsel? v.territorial I have had my tank setup for about 3 months now. I don't want to move to any other fish until I really get the hang of things. I have 3 damsels (Two blue w/ yellow tail and one black and white striped damsel). The other two damsels sit on opposite corners and I rarely see them come out for food. The Black and White damsel paces the whole tank and he's the only one that eats. Should I get rid of him? Tank is a 30 gallon.

06/10/2009, 02:33 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Actually, you'll want to remove all three damsels. They have already established territory in the tank will bully any new additions to death. Especially in that size tank. Note that I didn't say might bully a new addition, but that they will bully them to death. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/10/2009, 03:11 PM	#5
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	for sure no tang will do..gobies, maybe clownfish..few other choices but when the three stripe is removed, the yellow tails will become more bold they are just being bullied right now. __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

06/10/2009, 08:10 PM	#9
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Once the damsels are out, other possible fish would be clownfish, a chalk bass, royal gramma, gobies, and firefish. The last two are known jumpers, so a cover is a must. Look in the Nano forum, or I believe Liveaquaria has a "Nano" fish section. I think that a 30 would be at the larger end of the Nano category. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

06/10/2009, 11:27 PM	#12
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	The blue and yellow ones should be fine. Mine have no problem with the other fish. The Black & White probaly has stripes. Striped Damsels are very agressive. In FW about the same as a tiger barb or convict. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

06/10/2009, 02:55 PM	#3
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Sugar is correct!

06/10/2009, 03:16 PM	#6
Ktreece Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ft. Smith, Ar Posts: 155	What's the size recommendation for a Picasso trigger?

06/10/2009, 04:04 PM	#7
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	for any trigger or tang you need 90g at the least and that is pushing it

06/10/2009, 07:02 PM	#8
platinumck Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Findlay,Ohio Posts: 55	You have 3 super aggressive fish. I learned the hard way and had one 1" Damsel torture my 4" Heniochous banner fish to death. Needless to say I yanked him. I would pull all 3 Damsels and take them back to the LFS. Maybe try 2 mated Ocellaris Clowns or 2 different pygmy Angels like a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty.

06/10/2009, 09:31 PM	#10
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Even amongst other aggressive damsels, convict damsels (black striped damsel) are aggressive. they get large quickly and will eventually kill every other tank inhabitant. I'd get all three out and then get less aggressive fish.

06/10/2009, 11:22 PM	#11
Ktreece Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ft. Smith, Ar Posts: 155	I plan on picking up a larger tank sometime soon. I've had this tank quite a while, it's just not been used in 5 years. I really don't want to go with clowns. Maybe I should just look into a bigger tank first.

06/11/2009, 02:02 AM	#13
je339999 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: omaha, ne Posts: 31	i added two sebae clowns to a 30 gal. that already contained 3 blue damsels (devils). the sebae were both over 1 1/2" in size and they fended for themselves just fine. the blue damsels actually get out of their way! the blue damsels arent as nasty as the striped i think. my point is you may not have to get rid of your damsels, depends on what you add for other fish.