Damsel Questions

[green1_8team]

so i put a blue damsel in my tank to start the cycling and i was wondering if that was a bad choice? I only have one, so when i put in a clown or anthius will it attack them? If so which would prevail, due to the comaparison of fish costs?

[missionsix66]

It depends on the size/type of clown and anthias are generally real timid fish.

[Brandon1023]

Take it out and use a raw shrimp from the grocery store to cycle instead. Damsels are evil and get meaner as they get older.

[Bogie]

When you say "start the cycling" do you mean the tank was just set up this week?

[nunch]

good choice to cycle w/, if all same size i would say clown, especially if maroon. you never know? it's a toss up they might be fine together, at least the first 2 the last one you decide to add might have to earn his respect.

[green1_8team]

Originally Posted by Bogie

When you say "start the cycling" do you mean the tank was just set up this week?

I set the 10 gallon a week ago. I let the water with the live rock, sand, conditioner w/ salt, penguin 100 filter running and my 25 watt heater sit for two day then added 10 red legged hermit crabs, two turbo snails and a green chromis. The chromis stayed under for two days and when i went to go get more live rock i came home to find the chromis being eaten by the hermit crabs. I added the blue damsel after that. Now its been a week.

[omard]

Originally Posted by Brandon1023

Take it out and use a raw shrimp from the grocery store to cycle instead. Damsels are evil and get meaner as they get older.

Sorry, have respectfully disagree once again (polite way of saying "baloney"/"B.S." ) to any fish being inherently "evil" or "mean."

Many, upon many tanks have been shown here populated by various damsels, along with all kinds of other fish...

Damsels are vibrant and beautiful and loaded with personality (besides advantages of being very cheap and durable)



(Repost from - "Damsel Bully"

No such thing as an "evil" fish...only "evil" people that put them in tank with incompatible species, not enough room or not taking into account living habits...

Shove any six of us in a small room, and see how quick we start tearing each other apart... (guaranteed won't take long with me in there... )

I really like my damsels. They bring great color, activity and character to tank...

Can't beat the price. ($4.00 ea for any damsel you want at my LFS) --- maybe I have been lucky, but have never had a ornery one to selves or others.

Again, I think age of fish and when introduced has much to do with success/failure. Also have no so called "docile" fish in tank. All can well hold own against any other.



You know me...never miss chance to post pics... (gotta stay on Luna's good side!)













Guess depends much on what you want and expect from your own piece of reef...takes some thought.

(looks like I need to keep this post handy, as I seem to have to repost it fairly regularly...)

[geekdafied]

I have had damsels, all different kinds and they are all aggressive, some more then others. The Fiji Damsel as its called now was commonly called Fiji DEVIL Damsel because its the meanest one of them. All the rounder bodied damsels like Dominos etc are really agressive and so are their cousins the rounder bodied clowns such as a Tomato Clown. I had a Domino damsel tear up a pair of clowns. I also had a blue damsel that I used to cycle with that got to the point were it chased EVERYTHING off its side of 48" tank. If I put my hand on its half of the tank, it would attack me.They are fearless little devils! Anybody who says anything different hasn't had them for long or has something else that dominates them and I can guarantee it 100% that as soon as that dominate fish is gone, you will see a different side to the damsels.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by green1_8team

I set the 10 gallon a week ago. I let the water with the live rock, sand, conditioner w/ salt, penguin 100 filter running and my 25 watt heater sit for two day then added 10 red legged hermit crabs, two turbo snails and a green chromis. The chromis stayed under for two days and when i went to go get more live rock i came home to find the chromis being eaten by the hermit crabs. I added the blue damsel after that. Now its been a week.

The first green chromis probably died due to high ammonia and toxic nitrites, which is inevitable at the begining of any tank's cycle process. Usually, you don't add any livestock or cleanup crew (hermit crabs) until after the cycle is complete, which could easily take 3-4 weeks. Cycle time depends on if you are using live sand, liverock (and how much of both), the size of the tank, etc. That first green chromis had No Chance.

[nunch]

Originally Posted by geekdafied

I have had damsels, all different kinds and they are all aggressive, some more then others. The Fiji Damsel as its called now was commonly called Fiji DEVIL Damsel because its the meanest one of them. All the rounder bodied damsels like Dominos etc are really agressive and so are their cousins the rounder bodied clowns such as a Tomato Clown. I had a Domino damsel tear up a pair of clowns. I also had a blue damsel that I used to cycle with that got to the point were it chased EVERYTHING off its side of 48" tank. If I put my hand on its half of the tank, it would attack me.They are fearless little devils! Anybody who says anything different hasn't had them for long or has something else that dominates them and I can guarantee it 100% that as soon as that dominate fish is gone, you will see a different side to the damsels.

I have to disagree w/ you as well. I have 2 dominoes, a 4stripe, purple chromis and GBM clown (which is practically a damsel, same family diff sub-family, but that's another thread) they live in perfect harmony for over a yr now, i've introduced a yellow watchman, LM blenny, DF puffer, Bl angel and mano after the damsels had been together for over 8 months and never had a problem.