Blue Damsel?

invaderzimm · 04/16/2014, 02:35 PM

So currently I only have a damsel in my 30 gallon tank. The fish I wan to get are the Ruby Cardinal, Purple Firefish Goby, The long fin fairy wrasse, and a usual clownfish. I know I should only have 1 goby, 1 clown, and probably keep it at 1 damsel. However, I know damsels can be aggressive. This damsel wasn't aggressive before when I had other fish in the tank (they were wiped out by icy >:/ . Anyway, I've waited awhile doing water changes and such in order to get rid of the ich. The damsel has been alone now for quite some time. Do you thing he will be non aggressive like before or will be attack the new fish?

thegrun · 04/16/2014, 02:41 PM

As a side note, water changes will not eliminate ich. Every fish is different, but usually when an aggressive fish has sole control of a tank, they do not welcome new additions into "their" tank.

mcozad829 · 04/16/2014, 02:42 PM

Just like 8 other people told you in the exact same post earlier, the odds are that your damsel will be aggressive. There are exceptions to every rule but most likely you will regret it.

Are you are reposting the same thing because you are looking for someone to tell you its a gonna be ok? Listen to the sound advice you were already given in your other post and you will be better off.

invaderzimm · 04/16/2014, 02:43 PM

lol i realize it seems like that. It was cause I wanted to put new info but wasn't sure if it would be seen. Anyway, I removed the damsel and will take him to the fish store.

webslinger · 04/16/2014, 02:44 PM

Go fishing, He will terrorize your tank

mcozad829 · 04/16/2014, 02:47 PM

Smart move. Here is a picture of what a bluefin damsel did to a sail fin tang that was 3 times his size. Note that this is close to a year after the attack and fins are growing back still. I am pretty sure most damsels can take on anything that isn't big enough to swallow them whole.

Kearnel · 04/16/2014, 02:50 PM

Damsels to me are a hit and miss, I've have 3 and have had them from the start. They can be pushy but mine just sorted it all out on their own. I suppose it depends on available real estate for them as well. I add new fish and they bother nobody but some people hate em. Pretty sure you can have more than one goby though just be aware that those are very timid little guys. I had 2 and they didn't last a week. Nothing bothered them just to much action for them so they stayed hidden. Pretty sure they starved to death or got munched by my purple reef lobster. Bit of a stalker that thing is.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/16/2014, 02:52 PM

I would return the Damsel to the place you purchased from if they will take it back. To put it mildly your Damsel is very likely to attack and kill any new additions.

Unless you have a sophisticated filtration system, you want too many fish for a 30 gallon tank unless it is going to stay a FOWLR tank.
All of the fish you want will grow to 2-3" in length and produce a lot of waste.
If you want to keep any corals, you will be busy doing water changes to keep nitrates down.

Mark9 · 04/16/2014, 05:40 PM

Get rid of the damsel now, or you will regret it.

Reefinny · 04/16/2014, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark9

Get rid of the damsel now, or you will regret it.

+1 I did. I bought 4 thinking they would help with my cycle. I spent 5 hours one Saturday with a fish trap catching everything in my tank except the damsels. I finally caught 3 of them. there is one more in there and I am ready to get a small line and mini hook to get it out.

EnderTurtle · 04/16/2014, 08:01 PM

I saw a yellow tail damsel take a huge chunk out of the fin of a 6-line wrasse. The wrasse swam by the damsel's territory which was a mushroom and he bit the wrasse. I could see the chunk of blue/red fin the damsel spat out of his mouth.

The wrasse was approximately 5 inches long. The damsel was about 1 inch long. They are aggressive fish and I don't have them in my tank.

invaderzimm · 04/17/2014, 11:31 AM

I took the damsel out yesterday. Luckily there were no other fish in the tank because I had to take out everything in my take to get him. They are like lightning. At least he's out now.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/17/2014, 11:39 AM

Good move.
Will your LFS take it?

MrTuskfish · 04/17/2014, 11:51 AM

If you lost fish to ich and didn't leave your tank fishless for about 12 weeks, you probably still have the ich and can expect the same results.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/17/2014, 12:30 PM

Not necessarily.
A healthy, well fed fish can beat an ich infestation. I have seen it happen many times.
If you are a beginner and ich is present in your tank, now might be a good time to leave it fishless and ghost feed for the next 8 weeks.
Then start re-populating the tank.
I know waiting another 8 weeks is not what you want to hear, but it could save you a lot of money and heartache down the road.

deemos · 04/17/2014, 02:27 PM

I made the mistake of buying 5 damsels when i first started this hobby.
They are the worst fish you can ever buy, I hate them....... They stressed my other fish, some even died.

happy2reefer · 05/13/2014, 08:42 PM

I have 8 damsels, all roughly the same size. My tank is super lively with flashes of blue red and black. Damsels chase each other constantly. They however never chase the dottyback the angel or the blenny. I love them I guess I'm the only one

happy2reefer · 05/13/2014, 08:45 PM

Oh yeah and 2 pink skunk clowns

undeadmoto · 06/30/2014, 11:02 AM

I had a poor experience with damsels but I am finding out it was because of my tank size. I bought green chromie then a neon velvet and they got along fine then I let my wife choose a fish she chose a domino and I even asked the Lfs if this would be safe and they said velvet and dominos should match aggression but watch the chromie two days later my velvet was dead and the domino went back to the Lfs because he was after the chromie

04/16/2014, 02:35 PM	#1
invaderzimm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 21	Blue Damsel? So currently I only have a damsel in my 30 gallon tank. The fish I wan to get are the Ruby Cardinal, Purple Firefish Goby, The long fin fairy wrasse, and a usual clownfish. I know I should only have 1 goby, 1 clown, and probably keep it at 1 damsel. However, I know damsels can be aggressive. This damsel wasn't aggressive before when I had other fish in the tank (they were wiped out by icy >:/ . Anyway, I've waited awhile doing water changes and such in order to get rid of the ich. The damsel has been alone now for quite some time. Do you thing he will be non aggressive like before or will be attack the new fish?

04/16/2014, 02:42 PM	#3
mcozad829 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Natchitoches, LA Posts: 619 Blog Entries: 1	Just like 8 other people told you in the exact same post earlier, the odds are that your damsel will be aggressive. There are exceptions to every rule but most likely you will regret it. Are you are reposting the same thing because you are looking for someone to tell you its a gonna be ok? Listen to the sound advice you were already given in your other post and you will be better off. __________________ "You'll have plenty of time for rolling doobies... when you're living in a van... down by the river!"

04/16/2014, 02:47 PM	#6
mcozad829 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Natchitoches, LA Posts: 619 Blog Entries: 1	Smart move. Here is a picture of what a bluefin damsel did to a sail fin tang that was 3 times his size. Note that this is close to a year after the attack and fins are growing back still. I am pretty sure most damsels can take on anything that isn't big enough to swallow them whole. __________________ "You'll have plenty of time for rolling doobies... when you're living in a van... down by the river!" Last edited by mcozad829; 04/16/2014 at 02:48 PM. Reason: picture

04/16/2014, 02:52 PM	#8
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I would return the Damsel to the place you purchased from if they will take it back. To put it mildly your Damsel is very likely to attack and kill any new additions. Unless you have a sophisticated filtration system, you want too many fish for a 30 gallon tank unless it is going to stay a FOWLR tank. All of the fish you want will grow to 2-3" in length and produce a lot of waste. If you want to keep any corals, you will be busy doing water changes to keep nitrates down. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/17/2014, 11:39 AM	#13
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Good move. Will your LFS take it? __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/16/2014, 02:41 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	As a side note, water changes will not eliminate ich. Every fish is different, but usually when an aggressive fish has sole control of a tank, they do not welcome new additions into "their" tank.

04/16/2014, 02:43 PM	#4
invaderzimm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 21	lol i realize it seems like that. It was cause I wanted to put new info but wasn't sure if it would be seen. Anyway, I removed the damsel and will take him to the fish store.

04/16/2014, 02:44 PM	#5
webslinger Friendly Neighborhood Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Lancaster, NY Posts: 307	Go fishing, He will terrorize your tank

04/16/2014, 02:50 PM	#7
Kearnel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Brantford, Ontario Posts: 315	Damsels to me are a hit and miss, I've have 3 and have had them from the start. They can be pushy but mine just sorted it all out on their own. I suppose it depends on available real estate for them as well. I add new fish and they bother nobody but some people hate em. Pretty sure you can have more than one goby though just be aware that those are very timid little guys. I had 2 and they didn't last a week. Nothing bothered them just to much action for them so they stayed hidden. Pretty sure they starved to death or got munched by my purple reef lobster. Bit of a stalker that thing is.

04/16/2014, 05:40 PM	#9
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Get rid of the damsel now, or you will regret it.

04/16/2014, 08:01 PM	#11
EnderTurtle BAR - Sponsorships Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 521	I saw a yellow tail damsel take a huge chunk out of the fin of a 6-line wrasse. The wrasse swam by the damsel's territory which was a mushroom and he bit the wrasse. I could see the chunk of blue/red fin the damsel spat out of his mouth. The wrasse was approximately 5 inches long. The damsel was about 1 inch long. They are aggressive fish and I don't have them in my tank.

04/17/2014, 11:31 AM	#12
invaderzimm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 21	I took the damsel out yesterday. Luckily there were no other fish in the tank because I had to take out everything in my take to get him. They are like lightning. At least he's out now.

04/17/2014, 11:51 AM	#14
MrTuskfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Wild Blue Yonder Posts: 8,887	If you lost fish to ich and didn't leave your tank fishless for about 12 weeks, you probably still have the ich and can expect the same results. __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat. Steve Current Tank Info: 180, 2-240 FOWLRs, 240 reef

04/17/2014, 12:30 PM	#15
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Not necessarily. A healthy, well fed fish can beat an ich infestation. I have seen it happen many times. If you are a beginner and ich is present in your tank, now might be a good time to leave it fishless and ghost feed for the next 8 weeks. Then start re-populating the tank. I know waiting another 8 weeks is not what you want to hear, but it could save you a lot of money and heartache down the road. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/17/2014, 02:27 PM	#16
deemos Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 34	I made the mistake of buying 5 damsels when i first started this hobby. They are the worst fish you can ever buy, I hate them....... They stressed my other fish, some even died.

05/13/2014, 08:42 PM	#17
happy2reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: ft hood, tx Posts: 10	I have 8 damsels, all roughly the same size. My tank is super lively with flashes of blue red and black. Damsels chase each other constantly. They however never chase the dottyback the angel or the blenny. I love them I guess I'm the only one

05/13/2014, 08:45 PM	#18
happy2reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: ft hood, tx Posts: 10	Oh yeah and 2 pink skunk clowns

06/30/2014, 11:02 AM	#19
undeadmoto Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: idaho Posts: 109	I had a poor experience with damsels but I am finding out it was because of my tank size. I bought green chromie then a neon velvet and they got along fine then I let my wife choose a fish she chose a domino and I even asked the Lfs if this would be safe and they said velvet and dominos should match aggression but watch the chromie two days later my velvet was dead and the domino went back to the Lfs because he was after the chromie