Damsel Foibles

wsboyette · 07/22/2020, 01:55 AM

Are Blue Damsels as potentially troublesome as Domino Damsels ? I had seen reports that Domino Damsels can get really mean and not get along well in a community tank, and that damsels in general can clash with other fish badly. In my last setup I had a Blue Damsel which got along fine with the other fish....

Vinny Kreyling · 07/22/2020, 09:46 AM

Just like people, they all have their personalities.

Michael Hoaster · 07/22/2020, 09:50 AM

Yes, those are both potentially troublesome damsels. Many damsels start out fine, as juveniles, but get very mean as they mature. The ideal scenario to add these fish is a large tank, already stocked with large, aggressive fish. They will do fine. Unfortunately, damsels are often the first fish added, when cycling, because they are hardy. This lets them get established, and any new fish get harassed, often to death.

I have tried out several of the less aggressive damsels, in an effort to find community-friendly species. The least aggressive of the ones I tried were the Allen's Damsels, also known as Neon Damsels. They are a gorgeous blue, with an extra pop of a blue sheen, that I think is prettier than a Blue Devil. I have a group of five in a 180g. They are very sociable and active, and get along well with each other and other species.

wsboyette · 07/22/2020, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Yes, those are both potentially troublesome damsels. Many damsels start out fine, as juveniles, but get very mean as they mature. The ideal scenario to add these fish is a large tank, already stocked with large, aggressive fish. They will do fine. Unfortunately, damsels are often the first fish added, when cycling, because they are hardy. This lets them get established, and any new fish get harassed, often to death.

I have tried out several of the less aggressive damsels, in an effort to find community-friendly species. The least aggressive of the ones I tried were the Allen's Damsels, also known as Neon Damsels. They are a gorgeous blue, with an extra pop of a blue sheen, that I think is prettier than a Blue Devil. I have a group of five in a 180g. They are very sociable and active, and get along well with each other and other species.

Those Neon Damsels are very pretty; I'd like to maybe add some after the other fish are established in the tank. I had good success with Javanese (Blue Velvet) Damsels in the past; I may get one of those.

Sk8r · 07/22/2020, 11:07 AM

Fiji Blues are cranky but nowhere NEAR the crankiness of Dominos; in a separate and more peaceful category, blue-green chromis, a quasi damsel that other damsels hate. But chromis really bother nothing but each other. Limit: one, unless you have a very long tank.

Uncle99 · 07/22/2020, 02:42 PM

Many times these questions are hit or miss types as the environment and players in each setup are so very different.

wsboyette · 07/22/2020, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Many times these questions are hit or miss types as the environment and players in each setup are so very different.

That is correct, it depends largely on tank size, how much structure in the tank, what other fish are in it, ad infinitum.

Sk8r · 07/22/2020, 09:52 PM

Aggression is often a function of tank size, shape, population and rockwork design. A domino damsel's aggression, however, is demonstrative. They grow to the size of a saucer, the golden emits a buzz that can startle dinner guests, and they pick up pieces of the rockwork OR your specimens and fling them about half a foot on average when they feel a need to emphasize territory. They're fairly good about not killing their tankmates if they're used to them, but they abhor chromis with a passion and none will survive.

Oldreeferman · 07/22/2020, 10:16 PM

Another awful aspect of a damsel is attempting to remove it/them after making the introduction mistake in the first place, fastest fish i ever chased..................Ended up removing all rockwork to catch it after all else failed.Think real hard about a blue damsel, beautiful but mean as my ex was.

Alex114 · 07/23/2020, 09:19 AM

If you’re looking for a blue color check out the blue sapphire. The one I got hasn’t gone after anything since I added it and live aquaria even lists them as peaceful. They’re a little darker shade of blue than the neon damsels but they still glow in the tank. And stay smaller than most of the other damsels I think

07/22/2020, 01:55 AM	#1
wsboyette Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: N.E.N.C. Posts: 140	Damsel Foibles Are Blue Damsels as potentially troublesome as Domino Damsels ? I had seen reports that Domino Damsels can get really mean and not get along well in a community tank, and that damsels in general can clash with other fish badly. In my last setup I had a Blue Damsel which got along fine with the other fish.... __________________ Oh..... Fishy Fishy Fishy FISH ! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Fish-Only With Dry Rock, Filtration: Aquamaxx HOB Filter/Skimmer & Aqua-Tech 30-60 300 GPH HOB Motor Filter, Livestock: Coral Beauty and Maroon Clown

07/22/2020, 09:46 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Just like people, they all have their personalities. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/22/2020, 09:50 AM	#3
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Yes, those are both potentially troublesome damsels. Many damsels start out fine, as juveniles, but get very mean as they mature. The ideal scenario to add these fish is a large tank, already stocked with large, aggressive fish. They will do fine. Unfortunately, damsels are often the first fish added, when cycling, because they are hardy. This lets them get established, and any new fish get harassed, often to death. I have tried out several of the less aggressive damsels, in an effort to find community-friendly species. The least aggressive of the ones I tried were the Allen's Damsels, also known as Neon Damsels. They are a gorgeous blue, with an extra pop of a blue sheen, that I think is prettier than a Blue Devil. I have a group of five in a 180g. They are very sociable and active, and get along well with each other and other species. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/22/2020, 11:07 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Fiji Blues are cranky but nowhere NEAR the crankiness of Dominos; in a separate and more peaceful category, blue-green chromis, a quasi damsel that other damsels hate. But chromis really bother nothing but each other. Limit: one, unless you have a very long tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/22/2020, 09:52 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Aggression is often a function of tank size, shape, population and rockwork design. A domino damsel's aggression, however, is demonstrative. They grow to the size of a saucer, the golden emits a buzz that can startle dinner guests, and they pick up pieces of the rockwork OR your specimens and fling them about half a foot on average when they feel a need to emphasize territory. They're fairly good about not killing their tankmates if they're used to them, but they abhor chromis with a passion and none will survive. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/22/2020, 02:42 PM	#6
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Many times these questions are hit or miss types as the environment and players in each setup are so very different.

07/22/2020, 10:16 PM	#9
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	Another awful aspect of a damsel is attempting to remove it/them after making the introduction mistake in the first place, fastest fish i ever chased..................Ended up removing all rockwork to catch it after all else failed.Think real hard about a blue damsel, beautiful but mean as my ex was. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

07/23/2020, 09:19 AM	#10
Alex114 Registered Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 162	If you’re looking for a blue color check out the blue sapphire. The one I got hasn’t gone after anything since I added it and live aquaria even lists them as peaceful. They’re a little darker shade of blue than the neon damsels but they still glow in the tank. And stay smaller than most of the other damsels I think