Keeping a yellow tail Damsel

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Marie0912, Mar 5, 2010.

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  1. Marie0912

    Marie0912 Fire Shrimp

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    I am cycling my tank with a damsel and some live rock, my lfs said I could take him back when I am done cycling but I kind of like him. I know they are agressive but is it possible to keep him. I heard good things about them and bad. My tank is 120 gallon

    What do you guys think?
     
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  3. pgoodsell

    pgoodsell Horrid Stonefish

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    I have my yellow tail I cycled with still in my tank. Its been a year now. I think out of all the damsels their the nicest, but that said they can still be a pain. Just be careful if you plan to add any real shy fish. Mine will get aggressive when I add a new fish, but he calms down in a couple of days.
     
  4. skiergd011013

    skiergd011013 Peppermint Shrimp

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    i have a yellowtail in my tank with 2 clowns a fire goby and royal gramma the damsel causes no problems.
     
  5. marlinman

    marlinman Zoanthid

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    A 120 gal tank is a good size tank. This is strictly your call. Although if he becomes a problem you are going to have to tear your reef apart to get him out.

    The damsel idea is getting old. I bought a couple of percula clowns that I intended to have anyway and took a shot with them and I still have them. They went from my original 65g to a 120g and then to my new 210g and they are one hardy fish. I call them Ned and Nemo.:cheesy: Clowns are a very hardy fish and can withstand different water conditions and I find them to be better to cycle a tank.
     
  6. pgoodsell

    pgoodsell Horrid Stonefish

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    Yes but if a fish does die in the cycle, I would rather it be a $2 damsel, than a $35 dollar clown. ;)
     
  7. DanKistner

    DanKistner Coral Banded Shrimp

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    I have 2 yellow tails, 2 ocellaris, and a Gold Headed Sleeper Goby in my 75, even when they were all in my 55, they were fine the damsels kept to themselves never messed with anthing.
     
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  9. MoJoe

    MoJoe Dragon Wrasse

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    Damsels do have a pretty bad rap, but they can def get aggresive as they get older. I think it depends a lot on the temperment of the individual fish, when it was added to the tank, etc. If you're starting the tank with a YT Damsel, you may encounter aggresiveness when adding new fish to the tank if it's claimed territory.

    I posted this vid on another thread but this is a YT Damsel defending it's territory. They will stand their ground no matter the size of the fish or person or whatever, they've got gumption: YouTube - DIVER ACCIDENT: Aggressive fish attacks scuba-diver
     
  10. marlinman

    marlinman Zoanthid

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    How would you feel later when he kills a Flame Angel that you pay $50 for? I had used damsels about 15 years ago in a 150 gal tank. Now you would think that hey there is plenty of room for everybody. But nooooo! They bullied any fish I put in the tank. I had to tear apart the tank to get them out and I ended up killing one of them in doing so. IMO;)
     
  11. ingtar_shinowa

    ingtar_shinowa Giant Squid

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    i like my yellowtail, might be the only fish I put in my 55 ;-)
     
  12. marlinman

    marlinman Zoanthid

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    I've read good things about the yellowtail damsel. It's the domino and black and white stripe and the blue devil damsels that were a headache for me.