My endeavor with a damsel......advice needed

chaznsc · 02/12/2007, 07:34 PM

Hello,
I set up my 12g aquapod about a month ago. Bought LR, the water, Live sand, everything so it would cycle well.

Anyhow, I added 2 fish at the recommendation of my LFS. One was a blue damsel, and the other a fish with a purple head and yellow tail.

About a week ago the yellow/purple fish died. My nitrite levels were at 0.25 and i did a 10% water change, my amonia levels were normal. The damsel is fine. When speaking this weekend to the guy at the LFS he indicates the damsel is aggresive, and likely kept the other fish from eating, which I witnessed. He isnt mean perse, but he is a pig when it comes to eating.

Should I exchange him for something calmer? Im interested in a community sort of setting.

Thanks in advance,

chaz

Jerry W · 02/12/2007, 09:53 PM

The fish that died sounds like a royal gramma. Damsels, by nature are pretty territorial. Small tanks can exacerbate this behavior. If you want a community tank, the damsel may not be the best choice. Given the tank size, you're pretty much limited to a couple small fish anyway. A yellow watchman goby would be nice, as would the royal gramma if you care to get another.

MIKE NY · 02/12/2007, 11:45 PM

sounds like a blue devil.....change it..a damsel will dominate a tank that small and make it very hard to add any other fish.......

catdoc · 02/13/2007, 06:28 AM

I had a blue devil damsel in a 29 gallon tank with a peacock mantis. The fish even bullied the mantis! Little bugger now lives in my sump where he can stake his claim on 100 gal without hurting anyone.

Navyblue · 02/13/2007, 06:31 AM

A damsel is fine as long as he is the smallest fish in the tank, and by a good margin.

02/12/2007, 07:34 PM	#1
chaznsc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 30	My endeavor with a damsel......advice needed Hello, I set up my 12g aquapod about a month ago. Bought LR, the water, Live sand, everything so it would cycle well. Anyhow, I added 2 fish at the recommendation of my LFS. One was a blue damsel, and the other a fish with a purple head and yellow tail. About a week ago the yellow/purple fish died. My nitrite levels were at 0.25 and i did a 10% water change, my amonia levels were normal. The damsel is fine. When speaking this weekend to the guy at the LFS he indicates the damsel is aggresive, and likely kept the other fish from eating, which I witnessed. He isnt mean perse, but he is a pig when it comes to eating. Should I exchange him for something calmer? Im interested in a community sort of setting. Thanks in advance, chaz

02/12/2007, 09:53 PM	#2
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	The fish that died sounds like a royal gramma. Damsels, by nature are pretty territorial. Small tanks can exacerbate this behavior. If you want a community tank, the damsel may not be the best choice. Given the tank size, you're pretty much limited to a couple small fish anyway. A yellow watchman goby would be nice, as would the royal gramma if you care to get another. __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

02/12/2007, 11:45 PM	#3
MIKE NY Two Decade club Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Franklin Square, N.Y. Posts: 4,381	sounds like a blue devil.....change it..a damsel will dominate a tank that small and make it very hard to add any other fish....... __________________ Proud LIRA Member February 2011 Manhattan Reefs TOTM Current Tank Info: 170 gal Reef, 20 gal frag/reef,90 gal fuge, 65 gal sump, 2-250 Radiums on Hamilton M80 HQIs, T5 actincs, Vertex in280 skimmer, MRC-2 Cal Reactor, Reeflo return pump

02/13/2007, 06:28 AM	#4
catdoc Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,449	I had a blue devil damsel in a 29 gallon tank with a peacock mantis. The fish even bullied the mantis! Little bugger now lives in my sump where he can stake his claim on 100 gal without hurting anyone. __________________ Christy Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. -George Eliot Current Tank Info: 55 gallon w/spawning onyx percs, bangaii pair & pink spotted goby w/ gbta, softies

02/13/2007, 06:31 AM	#5
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	A damsel is fine as long as he is the smallest fish in the tank, and by a good margin.