Damselfish in my Reef!

[andiesreef]

Hello! Just showing off my new Rolland's damsel. 24hrs after being introduced into my no-QT nano tank, this fella looks amazing. Love the way it darts around my tank. It seems to have claimed this crevice of my rock, kicking out the peppermint shrimp who used to call it home.

What are your thoughts on "peaceful" damsels? Do you like damsels at all?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello! Just showing off my new Rolland's damsel. 24hrs after being introduced into my no-QT nano tank, this fella looks amazing. Love the way it darts around my tank. It seems to have claimed this crevice of my rock, kicking out the peppermint shrimp who used to call it home.

What are your thoughts on "peaceful" damsels? Do you like damsels at all?

minus 1 vote for damsels

my experience, they are mean and despite their small size very territorial

 

[JayA]

my yellow tail blue damsel is a pretty decent tank mate! (so far...) Taking it one day at a time. 4 other fish in there. he bickers some with the clown that hosts in the anemone, otherwise ok. Nice color and active fish. Wasn't really my choice, per se (we were using him as a fish that could hold his own to see if I could introduce other fish). Since he has mostly behaved, I have let him stay.

 

[andiesreef]

minus 1 vote for damsels

my experience, they are mean and despite their small size very territorial

do you notice any species to be more or less aggressive than others?

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I like em then again I love all fish XD
i'd even recommend them in some cases, as long as you have more slightly aggressive and large fish to go with it. In nano tanks I probably wouldn't keep one though.

 

[DKPminus]

minus 1 vote for damsels
I also do not plan to add any damsels even in 225g. High risk of being aggressive.
my experience, they are mean and despite their small size very territorial

 

[CanuckReefer]

My Three Stripe Damsel has been a model citizen for 18 years. I think his larger tankmates keep his pugnacious Damsel tendencies 'in check ' lol.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have had a few varieties. Here are my experiences:

Blackmouth - cute when young grow up to be very large and very mean to everyone. Never get unless you have a shark tank and need food for them.
Clowns - love them, but when mated, they get territorial
4 Stripe - fine alone in my 40g with a clown, but territorial and I would never add another damsel in there.
Azure - love these guys. Had one alone for years in a frag tank. Currently have 6 in my 210g (3 did not make through QT). They have their spaces and do not bother anyone except their con-specifics if they get too close. Oh, and the lemon has taught them how to bite me when in the tank. Luckily they suck at it and it does not hurt.
Lemons - very territorial and do not like others of own species. Mine are a mated pair, but only are near each other during mating. Otherwise stay far away from each other. Like almost 6ft in my tank. Male loves to bite me anywhere in the tank. He goes right for the soft tissue in the wrist. Nutty fish.
Talbots - stick to themselves and do not bother a thing. I have 3 in my210g. Two stay within the same area and the third is on the other side of the tank. funny guys as they like to move sand to make little areas under rocks. Very docile and never go after me.
I have had chromis and just never liked them. They picked each other off.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Oh, I forgot, I have a Pavo damsel in my traveling tank. Still a baby, so we will see as it gets older how it behaves.

 

[LadyMac]

I had a lyretail damsel when I first started. My first fish. But then when I got clowns, I was cautioned that he would bully them. The opposite actually happened and they killed him.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Anyone ever tried a 'Jewel Damsel'? I always see them diving on Caribbean reefs and love the look of them....

 

[jesspal]

Azure damsel are great

 

[JumboShrimp]

+1 on Azures and Talbots. ;Happy

(Funny, I think if I only had a 10 gallon tank and could only pick one fish in the ocean for the tank, I think it might just be a Yellow Tail Damsel.)

 

[CanuckReefer]

+1 on Azures and Talbots. ;Happy

(Funny, I think if I only had a 10 gallon tank and could only pick one fish in the ocean for the tank, I think it might just be a Yellow Tail Damsel.)

Agreed, the bright blue with yellow tail is striking. Have always wanted to try a Fiji Devil Damsel too...

 

[suzsp8]

Thinking about getting a few Azures. Will they kill each other like green chromis?

 

[CanuckReefer]

Thinking about getting a few Azures. Will they kill each other like green chromis?

Maybe....I had several back in the day, then I had ONE. Tried them again, and had 3 from original 5 for about 2 or 3 years..

 

[Ento-Reefer]

I have a pair of azure damsels that I have had for 8 years. They spawn regularly and tend to keep to there own area. They do not really bother anything and are tough as nails. One crazy thing they do is attack any newly attached frags I place close to their rock. You would be surprised how a determined little fish can move your just glued down frag… lol

 

[Sump Crab]

I love damselfish! I think ppl hate on them cause their cheap lol. If they cost $500 everyone would want one!

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Damsels are cool but not worth it IMO. “There are so many other fish in the sea”

 

[CanuckReefer]

Damsels are cool but not worth it IMO. “There are so many other fish in the sea”

Its the often striking bright colouration for such a small fish that hooks me. In saying that I have a Three Stripe for years, that really is unremarkable colour wise lol, but he's my guy, steadfast....