Damsel help

Kingx · 05/05/2007, 02:34 PM

I just purchased 2 damsels, one solid blue and one blue with a yellow tail. The blue w/ yellow tail is slightly smaller than the other and right after I put them in last night has been bullied constantly. Within an hour of being introduced to the tank, the larger damsel claimed half the tank as his territory. After checking on them this morning, the only space that the larger damsel doesnt pick on the smaller one is the back left corner of the tank around the heat pump. The larger damsel swims around the tank freely and eats greedily. The smaller one sits in one place and doesnt move at all, not even to eat.
What can I do? Is it best just to take the agressive damsel back? This is all in a 14g cube tank.

BigScott · 05/05/2007, 03:01 PM

damsels are verry terratorial...i have the black an white stripe, an the yellow tail..if i could catch them i would get rid of them..

scott

bertoni · 05/05/2007, 03:02 PM

I'd take one or the other back. The tank is really large enough for only one damsel.

zyglow · 05/05/2007, 03:04 PM

That's how damsels are. Even if you remove the larger one, the smaller one will do it to the next fish you put in the tank.

hmello@bermexin · 05/05/2007, 03:06 PM

Take them both back, evil little fish that get to be even eviler big fish.

Kingx · 05/05/2007, 06:59 PM

will the little one die if I just leave them like this? maybe he will at least eat. Im taking them back in a few weeks anyway, I just want to make sure I can keep something alive first before I spend a lot of money on fish.

reefkrazy · 05/05/2007, 07:02 PM

it's the natural pecking order of things. The little one will get out of the big one's way. I would leave them.

AIMFish · 05/05/2007, 08:21 PM

The little one will continue to get harassed and more than likely not eat and die. From the description I would assume that you do not have alot of liverock or other decorations to help provide visual barriers and limit the size of the blue damsels territory. Adding more rock would help, as mentioned this is a small tank for 2 damsels, I would go ahead and return the blue. Oh and to reply to the previous posters comment, the little one will definitely get out of the way, death.

Kingx · 05/06/2007, 11:10 AM

He died before my lfs even opened.

05/05/2007, 02:34 PM	#1
Kingx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 68	Damsel help I just purchased 2 damsels, one solid blue and one blue with a yellow tail. The blue w/ yellow tail is slightly smaller than the other and right after I put them in last night has been bullied constantly. Within an hour of being introduced to the tank, the larger damsel claimed half the tank as his territory. After checking on them this morning, the only space that the larger damsel doesnt pick on the smaller one is the back left corner of the tank around the heat pump. The larger damsel swims around the tank freely and eats greedily. The smaller one sits in one place and doesnt move at all, not even to eat. What can I do? Is it best just to take the agressive damsel back? This is all in a 14g cube tank.

05/05/2007, 03:01 PM	#2
BigScott Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: norman , okla Posts: 2,267	damsels are verry terratorial...i have the black an white stripe, an the yellow tail..if i could catch them i would get rid of them.. scott __________________ Big ScoTT just stoppin in to say hello.. Current Tank Info: one 40 breeder,40 long sump..t5 lights an a 50 gallon in the works..if i ever get a truck to move it..

05/05/2007, 03:02 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd take one or the other back. The tank is really large enough for only one damsel. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/05/2007, 03:06 PM	#5
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Take them both back, evil little fish that get to be even eviler big fish. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

05/05/2007, 07:02 PM	#7
reefkrazy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: southington, CT Posts: 953	it's the natural pecking order of things. The little one will get out of the big one's way. I would leave them. __________________ To reef or not to reef, That is the question! Current Tank Info: 90g display, 55g sump/ Refuge, 400w APO fixture with 20k radiums, 250w 10k hqi, 2-110w vho actinics, Euroreef skimmer, vortech pump, phosban reactor

05/05/2007, 03:04 PM	#4
zyglow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 77	That's how damsels are. Even if you remove the larger one, the smaller one will do it to the next fish you put in the tank.

05/05/2007, 06:59 PM	#6
Kingx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 68	will the little one die if I just leave them like this? maybe he will at least eat. Im taking them back in a few weeks anyway, I just want to make sure I can keep something alive first before I spend a lot of money on fish.

05/05/2007, 08:21 PM	#8
AIMFish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Marion,IN Posts: 1,129	The little one will continue to get harassed and more than likely not eat and die. From the description I would assume that you do not have alot of liverock or other decorations to help provide visual barriers and limit the size of the blue damsels territory. Adding more rock would help, as mentioned this is a small tank for 2 damsels, I would go ahead and return the blue. Oh and to reply to the previous posters comment, the little one will definitely get out of the way, death.

05/06/2007, 11:10 AM	#9
Kingx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 68	death He died before my lfs even opened.