Damsels

[Balz3352]

What are your guy's feelings on Damsels. I'm working on the stock list on my 29 biocube and want to know how you feel about them. Many places that I have read say that Damsels are very aggressive and will go after other fish.... I even heard the saying "friends don't let friends buy Damsels" so yeah what's your feelings!

 

[MuralReef]

Some are aggressive and some aren't just do your research first. Some are good at controlling pests too and they are perfect for a smaller tank unless they get big which some do.

 

[FinsUp]

Friends don't let friends buy damsels. Unless those damsels are clowns.

I have heard that some (like Talbot's damsels, which I thought looked really nice) are much less aggressive than others, but to me it's not worth it.

Getting them out of the tank is nearly impossible, because they are extremely fast. I once put a damsel in a tank, and eventually decided to upgrade to a larger tank mostly so I could get the thing out.

But that's just my pair o' pennies.

 

[bsharpe]

I really don't like to sit in front of a tank where the fish are fighting, just not Zen I get annoyed when my clowns go at it and stressed fish might get sick.

 

[Fitz19d]

I think it comes to individuals too. And the big thing is tank size. RC people say keep odd numbers. I have even, but in a way odd because of ones behavior.

I have a 3 stripe black/white who hides 90% of the time, 2 yellow/blue bicolor who are staying small, and then a velvet who is crazy with the flourescent shiny blue streak. The velvet is supposed to be hype aggressive and he's getting quite big but I dont see any of them really having aggression. Once in a long while a damsel might dart at something but nothing like the chasing the flame angel does. Really they get bullied by the tang/angel/clowns more than anything.

I think aside from individual whatever is the setup of the tank. I have a ton of rock work and space and a very diverse population that may help keep things mixed up so they don't have time to devolve into damsel street fights.

 

[Ambrosio Aquatics]

if your doing just a mix of damsels i like them. if you want other more peaceful fish i hate them

 

[Catfish Charlie]

if your doing just a mix of damsels i like them. if you want other more peaceful fish i hate them

I have to agree with Nick on this. You ether love them or hate them! A 29 gal. BioCube is a pretty small tank, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work. I've had customers with 10 gal tanks with a half dozen damsels that did great. Than on the other hand I've had customers with two in a 90 gal. tank play hell with the rest of the tank! The best advise I can give you is........ go were your heart is! If you want damsels well.......do it, if not than don't!

 

[Dan s mixed reef]

I have a purple one with a yellowish head thats pretty chill he mostly hides though