View Full Version : What should I do about this?
rustyjames
02/05/2010, 08:39 AM
My only fish (2 yellow tail damsel) breed constantly. At first it was was pretty cool, they're healthy, water quality must be good. But now you can see the result. Sorry picture isn't great but those are all dead babies in the sump, in the dt I have to take a toothbrush to the rocks to get them off. Aside from it being ugly, is possibly bad for the tank?
gdsmith56
02/05/2010, 08:48 AM
There's only two ways that I can think of - move one of the fish to another tank or get a predator fish.
Chiefsurfer
02/05/2010, 09:03 AM
^+1. I have found that prolific breeders will do just that, and do it well. I would exchange those 2 damsels for something maybe a little less likely to breed.
username in use
02/05/2010, 09:03 AM
I agree with getting something to eat the babies, or, start a breeding tank, raise the fry and sell them to the stores. Could be a fun project, and be something cool to document in a thread.
rustyjames
02/05/2010, 09:06 AM
I thought about trying to raise them, for a second. Nobody would want them! When I had freshwater I started with 2 and ended up with like 50 cichlids. Couldn't give them away.
username in use
02/05/2010, 09:10 AM
yellow tailed damsels are imported by the thousands. If stores had a supply in the country, they should jump all over it. You'd only get a dollar or two a piece, but I think it would be fun to raise them.
Sugar Magnolia
02/05/2010, 09:34 AM
In a tank that size I would imagine it would be a problem. I'd suggest catching them and trying to trade them in or just give them to a LFS. There are so many other nice fish choices for that size tank.
potterjon
02/05/2010, 10:08 AM
So everyone agrees damsels pretty much suck, but fish stores sell them on a regular basis for "cycling". No one wants them in the long run in a reef tank but they do have their place in fish only tank. I think raising them would be a pain the arse, but if you did do it you could keep a whole lot of lfs happy. just my two cents.
tahoe61
02/05/2010, 10:46 AM
Two nice bristleworms will take care of that problems, seriously. I now clownfish breeders that use them in their fry tanks to eat the dead fry and left over food.
briangg57
02/05/2010, 11:05 AM
So everyone agrees damsels pretty much suck, but fish stores sell them on a regular basis for "cycling". No one wants them in the long run in a reef tank but they do have their place in fish only tank. I think raising them would be a pain the arse, but if you did do it you could keep a whole lot of lfs happy. just my two cents.
Sorry to disagree but I love my little guy. I've had him for 5+ years and he gets along great with all my other fish. My clowns spawn constantly and I don't have any problems with it because between my other fish and hemits and bristle worms, I can't find any dead ones after 1 day.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/perfecttank-04.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/Late2009Pics-152.jpg
username in use
02/05/2010, 11:08 AM
Thats a beautiful Damsel. I love the damsel family, they are really beautiful little fish.
rustyjames
02/05/2010, 11:13 AM
Wow. nice pictures. I do like my fish, had them for a year now. Never added anything else cause I know they can be a-holes. I have bristle worms and hermits but there is still dead bodies everywhere.
HumbleLobster
02/05/2010, 11:40 AM
About how often do they spawn?
rustyjames
02/05/2010, 11:49 AM
Every 2 to 3 weeks.
mstrpln03
02/05/2010, 01:40 PM
How's your water chemistry? I would think having all those dead babies decaying in your sump would cause ammonia spikes.
miztahphong2
02/05/2010, 02:06 PM
definately sounds like an issue!
briangg57
02/05/2010, 03:33 PM
My only fish (2 yellow tail damsel) breed constantly. At first it was was pretty cool, they're healthy, water quality must be good. But now you can see the result. Sorry picture isn't great but those are all dead babies in the sump, in the dt I have to take a toothbrush to the rocks to get them off. Aside from it being ugly, is possibly bad for the tank?
I was thinking about this for a while and I was wondering that being that you know about when the babies will come, can't you just put a nice clean filter pad in place to catch them and then remove and clean it?
SMITTY27030
02/05/2010, 06:17 PM
+1 to the ammonia spikes...think i would look for a predator too...i do think it would be fun to try and raise them though..messing with the rotifiers and such would be great
lordofthereef
02/05/2010, 08:03 PM
I say +1 to some more predators. Hey, the upkeep of the new additions would cost next to nothing with all that free food.
nstiesi
02/05/2010, 08:17 PM
Are you sure those are dead babies...they kind of look like pineapple sponges to me:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FAQ%20Pix/TinyTubiculousTubeworm.jpg
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