Blitzburggirl
New Member
I currently have a 29 gallon biocube with a high fin goby and a yasha goby/pistol, and biota mandarin. The gobies have paired (outside chance and I got lucky!) and live in their burrows with the shrimp. The high fin is a pretty "brave" and out and about but the yasha is a chicken. (Granted they've only been in the tank 2 months and 2/3 weeks respectively. The mandy just swims and swims. I have a good selection of frags and rockwork.
I'd like a couple open water swimmers. I don't want clowns.. because then I'll be tempted to get an anemone (s gig or haddoni) and then I'll either have to rehome existing fish, or I'll keep them and be resentful, so I'm going to not get clowns and set those cogs in motion.
Anyway. I have been drawn to damsels this go round. I am thinking either one Starcki or Tracey's... but I also thought maybe one of each so hopefully they can bug each other and ignore my other fish. I know it will be a nightmare to add a second if I don't add them at the same time. The Tracey's are small and ship small it seems, the Starcki gets big and ships big it seems. Maybe two or three Tracey's and forget the Starcki? But the tank is small and I don't want a royal rumble.
I'm an experienced reefer (goes back to the undergravel filter days) and have never had damsels before because I was terrified of having to yank them from much bigger tanks, or having clowns in smaller tanks and not wanting WW3. This one is a clean slate, and it just seems like this would be the time to do it. I've read a ton (someone said their Starcki's lost their vibrant color!?) I do frequent water changes due to frequent feeding (so I'm not overly concerned about bioload.. besides, I'd rather have the extra mouths to feed and enjoy.)
Edited to add: I'm seriously considering rehoming the biota mandarin. I paid alot for it because it was supposed to eat prepared foods. I *thought* I saw it eat prepared cyclops... I am doubting myself on that one now. I'm spending a fortune on pods and I don't like the mandy enough to justify it.
I'd like a couple open water swimmers. I don't want clowns.. because then I'll be tempted to get an anemone (s gig or haddoni) and then I'll either have to rehome existing fish, or I'll keep them and be resentful, so I'm going to not get clowns and set those cogs in motion.
Anyway. I have been drawn to damsels this go round. I am thinking either one Starcki or Tracey's... but I also thought maybe one of each so hopefully they can bug each other and ignore my other fish. I know it will be a nightmare to add a second if I don't add them at the same time. The Tracey's are small and ship small it seems, the Starcki gets big and ships big it seems. Maybe two or three Tracey's and forget the Starcki? But the tank is small and I don't want a royal rumble.
I'm an experienced reefer (goes back to the undergravel filter days) and have never had damsels before because I was terrified of having to yank them from much bigger tanks, or having clowns in smaller tanks and not wanting WW3. This one is a clean slate, and it just seems like this would be the time to do it. I've read a ton (someone said their Starcki's lost their vibrant color!?) I do frequent water changes due to frequent feeding (so I'm not overly concerned about bioload.. besides, I'd rather have the extra mouths to feed and enjoy.)
Edited to add: I'm seriously considering rehoming the biota mandarin. I paid alot for it because it was supposed to eat prepared foods. I *thought* I saw it eat prepared cyclops... I am doubting myself on that one now. I'm spending a fortune on pods and I don't like the mandy enough to justify it.
