Done the unthinkable today.

tyler1503 · Jan 2, 2015

What would you say if I told you I purposely did the ultimate unthinkable taboo in reef keeping?
That's right, I got an appropriately named "blue devil" damsel today. ON PURPOSE WHILE FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE AGGRESSIVE NATURE OF THESE FISH! I know, I know, I'm a bit crazy aren't I?
After buying him (Him? Her? It? I duno! Anyone here know how to sex these fish?) I started thinking "what if he's not so bad?"
So I'm starting this thread hoping some people can share stories about damsels without hating on them about being aggressive. They're awesome fish, but they've got a bad rep. I'm hoping some people can share some love instead of hate here in the hopes we'll start to think of these fish not as "aggressive spawns of satan" but "really cool fish with possible aggressive tendencies". After all, people LOVE clowns and aggressive wrasses don't they?
Let's ear those nice damsel stories!

Triggreef · Jan 2, 2015

Depends on the tank size really. Small tank = more aggression.

I have one interesting but probably generic (yet I never found one like him) blue damsel in my 200g with a ton of other fish. Not aggressive at all except to my own hand if I go near his hidy hole. The only annoyance from him is when he sometimes tries to search a new spot, and uses his tail to sweep the sand out from under rocks, making a big mess.

I had a fiji blue devil for years that just died for no apparent reason. Model citizen in a 125g. Never ventured far from his "home".

tigerdragon · Jan 2, 2015

Had one in a 135 gave him a big barnacle cluster that became his home only thing he ever gave any grief to was my rather large black volitan lion never got ate. The only damsels i ever had that were any trouble to me were the three dots. **** things are agressive.

tyler1503 · Jan 2, 2015

Nice stories guys! Good to see some people don't despise them

I've found the opposite with the three dots (I'm assuming that's the same fish as a domino damsel? The black ones with three small white spots). I had one that was really docile. He was the only fish in the tank though and he may have just been a chill individual.
I'm a big fan of the Talbots damsel/sunset damsel. A great fish!
I had a talbots damsel as one of my very first marine fish. He was really relaxed too until I added the domino I mentioned above. Both played well together, but the domino brought ich with him and I lost the Talbots damsel. The domino survived and like I said, was really docile.
I've never owned an aggressive damsel. In saying that, the only time I've ever had other fish in the tank with them was the two damsels together for a few short days. And now I have the blue devil in with a snowflake eel.

phillrodrigo · Jan 2, 2015

I love damsels but they are pretty much all insanely aggressive except a few kinds. I got rid of all mine in my 75 and Domino's are the worst. I use to have one that would attack a 8 inch lionfish. I have a very dark blue damsel I got from a club raffle and he seems docile. I have a 3 stripe that is a jerk. If damsels weren't such jerks I would have a few. At about a year they become aggressive. The biggest one will keep the others in check. Get rid of the big one and the next one becomes the aggressor. They just look mean with the way they swim.

ritter6788 · Jan 2, 2015

Agreed some are worse than others. I've kept damsels for years. I have a Starckii in my frag tank right now. I actually had to remove the clowns from that tank since they where harassing the damsel. Lol

Mine eats hair algae too!

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