Damsel friend?

Courtney Lovell · Apr 24, 2019

Hi there,
Newbie to this fabulous world. We got a yellow and blue damsel fish as a starter but my kids really want to add fish. I hear they are not great with other fish. Any thoughts?

Also I got 2 hermit crabs(both same size to start with) to help with clean up and one has switched shells 3 times in the last 2 months and has tripled in size! Obviously eating like a king but super mean. He keep picking fights with the smaller one and appears to be looking in the other shells for someone to fight. Then he tosses the empty shells around. Any thought?

Thanks

James M · Apr 24, 2019

Welcome to reef2reef !!!
What size is your tank ?
I would replace the damsels

High ICP · Apr 24, 2019

The blue damsels are usually tame even later on

Domino and striped turn into monsters later on

Courtney Lovell · Apr 24, 2019

James M said:
Welcome to reef2reef !!!
What size is your tank ?
I would replace the damsels

13.5 gallon ....thanks

Dom · Apr 24, 2019

Generally speaking, Damsels are territorial and will give a bad time to anything added to the tank AFTER they have been there for a while.

PatW · Apr 25, 2019

A 13 gallon tank is pretty small. You only want nano fish. Damsels have out sized personalities. I am a scuba diver and 4” damsels will often attack divers who get into their territories. Big sharks tend to be shy but damsels are crazy.

Mikedawg · Apr 25, 2019

I would also replace the damsels. Might consider firefish, clown gobies (yellow and green), neon blue goby or a yellow prawn goby. https://www.liveaquaria.com/category/2124/nano-fish?c=15+2124&r=

All are hardy, colorful and have interesting habits. Good luck

Courtney Lovell · Apr 25, 2019

PatW said:
A 13 gallon tank is pretty small. You only want nano fish. Damsels have out sized personalities. I am a scuba diver and 4” damsels will often attack divers who get into their territories. Big sharks tend to be shy but damsels are crazy.

Wow!!! Thanks

Salty Waffles · Apr 25, 2019

I keep 5 Azure Damsels in my tank. I wouldn't say they're mean, but as mentioned they are territorial. They guard their little area against anyone no matter how much bigger or badder they may be IME. I could see one being a handful in such a small tank.

Salty Lemon · Apr 26, 2019

Damsels are territorial and the blues and yellows are supposed to be less aggressive than the black and whites (which are pure evil). This is your tank and you can decide what you would like to do and everyone has different experiences. But I would be hesitant having them as a starter fish.