Need damsel advice

[Jberge]

I upgraded from a 29g to a 72g in January. I left the 29g set up with a 3" Fiji blue devil and a 3" blue velvet damsel. They are a bit psychotic but live well together. I added a talbots a couple months ago who has learned to deal with them. The main DT has 2 clowns, 2 chromis and a CB but I'm planning on some new additions soon. I also have a 20g fish qt and a 5g frag/invert qt. There's just about a tank in every room. My fiancé wants me to move the damsels into my main DT and turn the 29g into my qt to minimize the space I'm taking up in our condo. Her suggestions to move the tanks around don't work because of the 10' separation rule. So I know in my gut it's a bad idea to move these damsels over and swore I'd be damsel free in my DT but I'm just wondering what others experiences have been.

 

[Brandy Hiller]

I had to move 3 neon damsels into my 60 gal, which had a 3 stripe and a very aggressive blue, and long story short 1 neon completely disappeared and the remaining 4 live harmoniously with each other. It took 4 weeks but eventually they found their own spot to defend and are doing fine

 

[Jberge]

I had to move 3 neon damsels into my 60 gal, which had a 3 stripe and a very aggressive blue, and long story short 1 neon completely disappeared and the remaining 4 live harmoniously with each other. It took 4 weeks but eventually they found their own spot to defend and are doing fine

As of right now there's nothing as aggressive as the damsels in my 72, except maybe my clowns could hold they're own. I'm pretty sure adding them now would be alright since they'll be the new guys. What worries me is adding new fish in the future once the damsels are territorial, especially if the new fish is smaller. I guess there's no real answer...I'd just be taking a risk.

 

[Brandy Hiller]

Damsels are so aggressive they take over and if you try and introduce something later it may be bullied to death. Unless it's much larger. I want to get rid of my damsels now's and apparently need to set traps to get them out Yay

 

[Webslinger]

They call them blue DEVIL's for a reason. The only damsel I would recommend for a tank is blue/green chromis. All damsels eventually will become terrors in your tank.

 

[Jberge]

Damsels are so aggressive they take over and if you try and introduce something later it may be bullied to death. Unless it's much larger. I want to get rid of my damsels now's and apparently need to set traps to get them out Yay

Yup that's exactly what I've seen happen and why I didn't put them in the new tank. Have fun!

They call them blue DEVIL's for a reason. The only damsel I would recommend for a tank is blue/green chromis. All damsels eventually will become terrors in your tank.

That is very true. I swore no damsels in the new tank and this confirms that I'm going to stick by that. Back to the drawing board for space saving ideas.

 

[redfishbluefish]

When I was a noobie, I purchased a blue velvet damselfish because I thought it was a pretty fish. After it killed fish #3, it was extracted and put into witness protection.....gone! The only damsels I'll ever own are clown fish. They are just the meanest of mean fish. I would not put them into your DT.....re-home them.

 

[Jberge]

When I was a noobie, I purchased a blue velvet damselfish because I thought it was a pretty fish. After it killed fish #3, it was extracted and put into witness protection.....gone! The only damsels I'll ever own are clown fish. They are just the meanest of mean fish. I would not put them into your DT.....re-home them.

The blue devil was given to me with the 29g and I bought the blue velvet the same way. When I upgraded I decided the 29g could be the damsel tank and it will stay that way.

 

[PanchoG]

QT is always a great idea, if you keep it running.... I tried twice but you are stuck with double WC, double cost, etc....

 

[alanbetiger]

All depends on what you want in the future. What inhabitants and what size tank. I have a Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Purple Tang, and Sailfin Tang and three clownfish with a Blue Devil and Yellow Tail Damsel. The damsels only fight among themselves and the tangs are way more aggressive. Granted that is in a 350 gallon DT.

 

[Jberge]

All depends on what you want in the future. What inhabitants and what size tank. I have a Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Purple Tang, and Sailfin Tang and three clownfish with a Blue Devil and Yellow Tail Damsel. The damsels only fight among themselves and the tangs are way more aggressive. Granted that is in a 350 gallon DT.

I'm looking into a tang or 2 possibly next and that's a good point that they are more aggressive. Besides that, I'm not sure what I'll want to add. 350g is a lot more space than my 72g. Before I upgraded there was always someone being chased around by the damsels. I have to admit it would be really nice having one less tank to take care of but I don't think it'll work.

 

[aquariumspecialtyDane Verified Sponsor]

If it was my tank I would probably add the blue velvet damsels but not the others. The blue velvet in my experience can get along together and with other fish as well. They are also know to eat flat worms and other hitch hikers that can get into the reef tank. The only thing that is kind of holding me back would be the size. If they are already at least 3+in then they might be kind of aggressive. I try to start will the small to medium blue velvet's and let them grow with the other fish in the tank. By adding a larger one right off might cause some problems.

 

[Jberge]

If it was my tank I would probably add the blue velvet damsels but not the others. The blue velvet in my experience can get along together and with other fish as well. They are also know to eat flat worms and other hitch hikers that can get into the reef tank. The only thing that is kind of holding me back would be the size. If they are already at least 3+in then they might be kind of aggressive. I try to start will the small to medium blue velvet's and let them grow with the other fish in the tank. By adding a larger one right off might cause some problems.

Thanks. I got the blue velvet as a little guy and he's grown to 3" in about 6 months, I guess I'm feeding him well. I've decided to leave my damsel tank running and not move them. My DT is relatively peaceful right now so it's not worth the aggravation

 

[jeffbyrd61]

Any one have issues with the yellow tail blue ones?