Damsel horror stories

[Dmann]

Do you have a damsel horror story? I'm new to this sw stuff and I have recently been hearing all kinds of horror stories. I put 2 blue yellow tail and 2 three stripe. Originally I was going to put in a lion fish so didn't plan on them being around long but went in another direction. So I guess I have to take them out a 180 which should be fun ?

 

[Dude1982]

I did have 2 talbot damsels until 1 killed the other, it then tried to eat it lol.
Both was settled in nicely for ages then 1 turned into a devil fish

 

[TheTodd]

I had a variety of six in an old tank. One of the Domino damsels decided it did not like the others and one by one, started picking them off. It left the larger fish alone, only chasing them away from its "space", but when all the other damsels were gone, I decided to catch him and return to my LFS. Didn't want to risk him going after the others.

 

[Dmann]

I think I will be taking them out

 

[TheTodd]

Have fun. I can't imagine trying to catch them in a 180 with rock.

 

[Dmann]

Luckily I don't have much rock in there yet. I will use a pool skimmer If I have to lol

 

[Brd.ginter]

Those are one kind of fish I wish I never would have out in my tank! They are the worst.

 

[Tiboblacuillere]

Had one yellow tail in my first tank with 2 ocellaris clown and was constently harrassing the clown. They were freak out always staying in the top corner so i dont recommand you unless with larger aggressive fish cause they are little devil

 

[Dmann]

These lil guys seem like bullies

 

[microd0t]

Have fun. I can't imagine trying to catch them in a 180 with rock.

I have a 26 bowed I took 2 yellow tail damsals out of and put in my 20L, had to take all 30 lbs of LR out they hid in even the smallest pieces or under them. They ended picking on my six line so I moved them back luckly I only have 2 big pieces in there

 

[54seaweed]

I read a lot about everyone having issues with damsels and find it hard to believe

I have had mine over a year and there all class citizens in my reef

I think the trick is not to have any 2 the same type

I have 1 domino , 1 three stripe , 1 yellow tail , 1 yellow , 1 yellow belly

they all have there own cave and don't bother anyone in the tank

they basically just hang out around there cave opening

 

[Dmann]

I think I'm going to remove them just in case. I would hate for a 3$ fish to kill one of my 50$ fish

 

[Novicarpentry]

I read a lot about everyone having issues with damsels and find it hard to believe

I have had mine over a year and there all class citizens in my reef

I think the trick is not to have any 2 the same type

I have 1 domino , 1 three stripe , 1 yellow tail , 1 yellow , 1 yellow belly

they all have there own cave and don't bother anyone in the tank

they basically just hang out around there cave opening

I think that's the way handle them

 

[Beengirl]

I read a lot about everyone having issues with damsels and find it hard to believe

I have had mine over a year and there all class citizens in my reef

I think the trick is not to have any 2 the same type

I have 1 domino , 1 three stripe , 1 yellow tail , 1 yellow , 1 yellow belly

they all have there own cave and don't bother anyone in the tank

they basically just hang out around there cave opening

I agree. You can't let them form a "gang", for lack of a better word. I have one honey red chromis (damsel) in my 30g, and he's been great. No problems at all so far. It's only been a couple of months, but he gets along with all the other fish. They all swim in the same general area, and no fights, no deaths. He has his own spot to sleep and all day hangs out with the other fish. I'm happy with him.

 

[Al.Ilgaz]

I started my tank with 4 of them. Found that domino was the most aggressive, putting another fish in there was not even an option because he was like a piranha. Once I returned him to the LFS, the three stripe sort of became "the man" and became the most aggressive. After I returned him the yellow belly became the most aggressive. So when I got my clowns I didn't want to take a chance and returned the yellow belly as well as the yellow tail back to the LFS. I have a feeling the yellow tail would have been ok to keep because he was very passive but I just didn't want to take a chance. Catching them is a horror story of its own. On the other hand I hear some people don't have any problems at all but it seems like majority of the people get the short end of the stick. But if it ever gets to the point where you want to return them and you're an hour in trying to catch them I'm sure you'll say the same thing as me "I should've never put you in my tank!"

 

[Beengirl]

I started my tank with 4 of them. Found that domino was the most aggressive, putting another fish in there was not even an option because he was like a piranha. Once I returned him to the LFS, the three stripe sort of became "the man" and became the most aggressive. After I returned him the yellow belly became the most aggressive. So when I got my clowns I didn't want to take a chance and returned the yellow belly as well as the yellow tail back to the LFS. I have a feeling the yellow tail would have been ok to keep because he was very passive but I just didn't want to take a chance. Catching them is a horror story of its own. On the other hand I hear some people don't have any problems at all but it seems like majority of the people get the short end of the stick. But if it ever gets to the point where you want to return them and you're an hour in trying to catch them I'm sure you'll say the same thing as me "I should've never put you in my tank!"

My damsel is in a tank with my dwarf angel, and the angel has been the boss of the tank for a while, so I'm pretty sure that if the damsel tries to get huffy, the angel will put him in his place. Haha

 

[0311Marine]

I'm new to this hobby, 1 week plus. Got a 10gl tank 1 live rock 4 demsles, with 3 hermit crab. With in the 1st night 1 got kill, then 2 others, and finally the last 1 died. Its probably had lots to do with the water conditions, but 2 of them got bite marks all over and fins are all gone. Went back into the store, the owner gave me 2 more, a orange and green demsle. After 2 days the green killed the orange demsle....... now water conditions r perfect, got 2 clowns in there so far day 1 is good but we shall see =)

 

[TheTodd]

Did you cycle your tank before adding the fish? If not, that could be part of the problem. What are your parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, salinity)? What filtration are you using? Water parameters are likely not perfect if its only been up a week (too quick to cycle) and if all the fish are dying on you. Damsels are pretty tough. Four, all at once in any size tank is probably not a good idea. Sounds like you are moving way too fast and if the tank was not cycled, all those fish are going to overload the biological filtration.

 

[0311Marine]

Did you cycle your tank before adding the fish? If not, that could be part of the problem. What are your parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, salinity)? What filtration are you using? Water parameters are likely not perfect if its only been up a week (too quick to cycle) and if all the fish are dying on you. Damsels are pretty tough. Four, all at once in any size tank is probably not a good idea.

Ammonia, nitrite was @ 0, and nitrate is low forgot the number. Filter is a three stage one, with sponge, carbon, and some white stuff.. (newb).. another thing was that for the first few days I had no heater, so water temps were probably in the mid to low 60s..... I also added another live rock several days back, totaling about 1lbs for 1 gallon.

 

[0311Marine]

Ammonia, nitrite was @ 0, and nitrate is low forgot the number. Filter is a three stage one, with sponge, carbon, and some white stuff.. (newb).. another thing was that for the first few days I had no heater, so water temps were probably in the mid to low 60s..... I also added another live rock several days back, totaling about 1lbs for 1 gallon.

And to answer the question I didn't cycle the tank which I think cause the fishes to not be very happy, and added on to the inital problem. Past few days the last green demsle has been way more active, hopefully it will live a longer life than its predecessors =)