Unusual damsels

[SDguy]

Even though this is for my FOWLR, I thought I'd get more replies here. Does anyone have experience with the following:

Chromis nitida "Barrier Reef Chromis"

Chromis retrofasciata "Black Bar Chromis"

Chrysiptera rollandi "Rolland's Damselfish"

Chrysiptera traceyi "Tracey's Damselfish"

Chrysiptera tricincta "Tuxedo Damselfish"

TIA!

[MIKE NY]

I have both the Black Bar Chromis and the Rolland's. The Black Bar, even though its a Chromis, acts just like the Rolland's and other damsels in which it will defend a small terroritory...they are easy to keep eating most everything offered and are not as aggressive as other damsels such as Dominos, Blue Devils, Humbugs etc...I have had mated pairs of many species of damsels over the years, but they will get more aggressive in defending their nests..so I only keep singles of damsels in my tank now.

[jazzman7838]

I've kept all those but C. nitida. They all like to pick at each other and act like typical Chrysiptera (including C. retrofasciata).

I always thought a sick damsel to get would be Pomacentrus vaiuli. When they're small they're completely awesome looking, as they age they are not quite as intense but certainly not ugly. They look a bit like a poor man's Interupta angel.

Juvenile


Adult

[haynesw]

I've been looking at the traceyi too. I would be interested in hearing anyone's first hand experience regarding their degree of aggression.

[copps]

Hey Peter, just yesterday I received the first new fish that went into QT for my new 1300 gallon... all of them were damsels from the genus Chrysiptera. This included four each of the three you mention... from Live Aquaria.

Chrysiptera tricincta is beautiful... the beautiful striping of Dascyllus without the aggression... these are rarely available so I was happy to get all four I ordered.

The Chrysiptera traceyi came in small but are very nice... not the in your face bright blue so common in their family, but a nice purple that contrasts amongst the other species I got... it's also nice to get something exciting I've never seen in person for cheap (although expensive for a damsel).

Chrysiptera rollandi is a perennial favorite... the specimens I got from Vanuatu are the nicest I've seen... with the bright yellow cap on them... and they were on sale. This order of twelve worked out well as it got me over the free shipping...

I also received an order from That Fish Place with a bunch... this order was driven by the very rarely seen Chrysiptera flavipinnis... what a cool little species!

Even in my 1300 I'm sticking only with Chromis and the genus Chrysiptera... these are not nearly as aggressive as other genera in the family...

Let's hear more experiences!

Copps

[SDguy]

Thanks for the replies. I have several already, but some are ridiculously shy. Maybe the fact that the really shy ones are singles?

Chrysiptera starcki x 2 - awesome, always out, zero aggression.

Chrysiptera talboti x 2 - always out, great pink color, only aggressive to each other on occasion.

Pomacentrus alleni x 3?2? Not sure if I still have 3. They are pretty shy, and VERY skittish.

Chrysiptera arnazae x 1 - NEVER see him. Half the time I think he's dead, and then surprise, there 's a glimpse of him.

Chrysiptera hemicyanea x 1 - not as bad as C. arnazae, but keeps extremely close to the rocks, and often hidden

[o2manyfish]

A local vendor has two tanks with the barrier reef chromis. Each tank has about 24 fish and the tanks are about 60g. They have been sitting there for months. There doesn't seem to be any aggression issues and all the chromis have full fins.

I have kept the Tracey for several years. I had an assortment of damsels before my last crash, and the Traceys didn't stir up an trouble.

I think perhaps 2 of the Tracey have survived my crash from last month. But where they used to be out in front of the rock work they now hide behind the rocks, so I am not sure if there is 1,2 or 3 that survived.

Dave B

[adtravels]

Just bringing this thread back to life as I picked up a pair of C. arnazae recently. They really are stunning little fish. I was wondering if anyone else has them and if they are all shy, one of mine is the other is not.

What is everyone's feelings on damsels? are they regaining any popularity, they really fit in well in mt sps tank as they provide a natural accent to the corals.

[Rilelen]

I really enjoy unusual damsels - I think damsels as a whole got tarnished a bit with the super aggressive reputation (and to be sure, some certainly are). I'd love to hear more about what others folks are keeping these days, especially if there's anything off the beaten path.

Would love to see pics of those C. arnazae you picked up!

[Sk8r]

Aggression is often purely a function of tank size. Damsels need space, and most need a hundred gallons plus. Your little fellows are quieter and can live with less room, but most grow to nearly 5" and a maroon clown is a 'better known' example of the habit---they are damsels, and my 4.5" golden domino is a close match in territoriality, ruling 100 gallons of bowfront corner tank, but ok with her roommates, a 2" 3-stripe, a little yellowtail, and 2 Fiji blue devils, who just duck politely when Miss Titanic swims past. Everybody gets along, and I have plenty of rockwork to give them passages and caves to duck into. Damsels are great fish, hardy, resistent to pests, and cheap, but fish stores keep selling them to people with 20 gallon tanks, which is just not going to work for the reefer or the fish.

[adtravels]

C. Arnazae, it has a wound on its abdomen that is healing, i believe it swam into my PH?

[Rilelen]

Oh wow, gorgeous pic, thanks! Ouch on the abdominal wound though, hope he keeps healing up nice.

[Dromon]

Originally Posted by Rilelen

I really enjoy unusual damsels - I think damsels as a whole got tarnished a bit with the super aggressive reputation (and to be sure, some certainly are). I'd love to hear more about what others folks are keeping these days, especially if there's anything off the beaten path.

Originally Posted by adtravels

What is everyone's feelings on damsels? are they regaining any popularity, they really fit in well in mt sps tank as they provide a natural accent to the corals.

Personally I like keeping a single damsel in a desktop nano. Keeping one by himself negates the aggression component entirely. Because they are reef safe you can throw in a couple of frags with a cool invert or two. Because of the hardiness of the fish it can tolerate any tank fluctuations that some nanos might get. In addition to being cheap and hardy like many have pointed out they are also colorful, full of character,heal quickly, do not require special needs and are not famous for being "jumpers". I also find them open to all foods from pellets to flakes to frozen.

[nanoreefer1000]

Oddball damsels and chromis are insanely underrated. I personally love the Curaçao Chromis sp. and the Deepwater Canary Damsel.