What Damsels should I get?

[willertac]

Hi there!
So my step-mom set up a 72 saltwater tank around October of last year and our starting fish were 4 yellow-tailed damsels and 2 tomato clowns. I have decided to start my own saltwater tank with what she and others have taught me. She offered me the tomato clowns for when my tank is ready because she wants to get ocellaris clowns instead. But I REALLY don't want those damsels.

Reason being: We started with 4. We now have 2. One with half of a tail, whom I named Halftail, was always picked on by the other damselfish until he died. Another one passed as well, but I wasn't there to know why he had. These remaining damsels are pretty nippy with their new neighbors, a long-nose butterfly, an Atlantic blue tang, and especially the blenny that chose its home where they would usually float around. They're a little too aggressive for my liking.

Is there perhaps a damselfish that is at least a little nicer than the yellow-tailed? If so, can you please let me know of them? Or did we just get the two most aggressive of the yellow-tailed damsels available?

Thanks!

 

[Cubbies]

Damsels are like that in general. Imo yellow tails are actually the nicer of the damsels.

 

[mike007]

If you are planning on a community tank I would not recommend damsels. They can be very aggressive. There are better choices. Are you doing a reef or fish only?

 

[willertac]

For now, a FWOLR. I feel I am too inexperienced for a reef right now.

 

[tvoydan]

None. IMO, they all get mean and territorial. I swore I'd never buy another damsel. Some cool looking ones totally change colors as adult and you wonder why you even bought it. Some will start digging in sand and will defend that little area like crazy. I had one that would charge the front glass of the tank anytime I walked past it.

Only way I would own one again is if I went with a species tank and went totally damsels. They are cheap and colorful. I saw a 125ga tank like that a few years back and it looked great. So many damsels, it was hard for them to single out one fish. If you really want one, look into the Allens Damsel. Cool looking fish. I almost bought a couple due to their shimmering color. But found out they like to dig. Stick to chromis is you want a peaceful fish.

FYI. Tomato clowns can also be very mean.

 

[willertac]

Yeah, the tomato clowns are also nippy, but are way better compared to the damsels we have. The clowns let the butterfly and tang into their corner and don't chase them out, while the damsels sometimes find it necessary to chase all of the fish away. They got evicted by the blenny and my step mom said it served them right.

 

[evan.lundberg4]

I would recommend trying some blue chromis if you want damselfish. I have two of them and they're really well behaved community members. Plus they're cheap usually and are always out swimming around.

 

[willertac]

Not to sound terrible, but I was going to use the inexpensive damsels to cycle, and if they lived, they would stay with the other fish I would get. So what can you suggest for me? If its hardy, I guess its a good choice, but I can't get the clowns without having proof that they won't die shortly after.
Fishless cycle, fish cycle, uncooked shrimp...?

 

[willertac]

That might work, actually.

 

[tuna_bullet]

Not to sound terrible, but I was going to use the inexpensive damsels to cycle, and if they lived, they would stay with the other fish I would get. So what can you suggest for me? If its hardy, I guess its a good choice, but I can't get the clowns without having proof that they won't die shortly after.
Fishless cycle, fish cycle, uncooked shrimp...?

Green chromis are the nicest out of the bunch and they school I have 13 my .02

 

[willertac]

That might work, actually.

BTW, I meant to reply to evan.lundgerg4

 

[willertac]

So can I mix the two chromis and have a mixed school?

 

[willertac]

BTW, I meant to reply to evan.lundgerg4

lundBERG!!! I can't type today, as it seems, sorry.

 

[evan.lundberg4]

Not to sound terrible, but I was going to use the inexpensive damsels to cycle, and if they lived, they would stay with the other fish I would get. So what can you suggest for me? If its hardy, I guess its a good choice, but I can't get the clowns without having proof that they won't die shortly after.
Fishless cycle, fish cycle, uncooked shrimp...?

I would suggest not using fish to cycle. The water quality will be quite terrible and hard on the fish. Cycling a tank is really easy to do without the fish. Either throw in a raw shrimp which is the most common way of doing it or what I did was buy pure ammonia and then you just look up online for the water volume of the system how much to add and just let it do it's thing. If you Google cycling a tank with pure ammonia you'll get like 500 pages on how to do it.

 

[Coraloliseffect]

Cycle with out fish. Always. Research. Google cycling with ammonia. Or get book beginner to breeder. Use pure ammonia from ace hardware. (No bubbles when shaken no flower sents) gives instant ammonia to get cycle started and when complete will have a strong cycle safe for fish.
Or
Get dr Tim's one and only add then add chromis / clowns. Get a tank raised and will have better success all around.

Will be sorry if damsel makes it. If it doesn't make it then you don't have a cycled tank and killed a damsel.

 

[skinz78]

I have 5 Sapphire Damsels in my 210g reef and they are model citizens. I'd recommend them to anyone.

 

[firefightered]

Damsels for the most part are a territorial fish (been there done that..) Clowns are also in the damsel family and have been known to be aggressive as well (in some species). If you have alot of rock work and need to get a troublesome damsel out off your tank you'll be sorry (they dont like to be cought). Look into getting some Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria for cycling your tank. The stuff works very well and very fast or try the raw shrimp method (takes a little longer). Just my .02 stay away from damsels!!! Chromes are damsels but are pretty nice fish that dont bother there neighbors they would be the only ones that I have had that I would get again. And of course some Nemos

 

[mike007]

Clown fish are in the same family as damsels. They can become aggressive also. As far as cycling a tank live rock and a bacterial additive is what I have used. You just have to be patient and test especially for ammonia. Once there is no trace of ammonia the cycle should be completed and then you can add livestock slowly.

 

[willertac]

Clown fish are in the same family as damsels. They can become aggressive also. As far as cycling a tank live rock and a bacterial additive is what I have used. You just have to be patient and test especially for ammonia. Once there is no trace of ammonia the cycle should be completed and then you can add livestock slowly.

Do you think I should skip the clowns too? If I should, I can formulate some form of excuse to not have them fall upon me if you think they may be too aggressive as well.

 

[willertac]

Do you think I should skip the clowns too? If I should, I can formulate some form of excuse to not have them fall upon me if you think they may be too aggressive as well.

Mine aren't that mean right now, though...