Blue Damsels - Bullying Issues

[SimbaAnto]

Hey guys. I am new to this forum and hobby as well. I have two Blue devil Damsels. It's bullying a lot on firefish, chromis, sometimes coral beauty.

I even lost a chromis because of that. Any suggestions or experience will.be helpful

Any suggestions to overcome. I have a Red Sea 350. It's a reef tank.

 

[Kris 2020]

Damsels are mean little fish. Are they new to the tank? How long have they been in there?

 

[SimbaAnto]

It's been 2 weeks now. Should I remove them and give it or donate it:)

 

[Kris 2020]

It's been 2 weeks now. Should I remove them and give it or donate it:)

Unfortunately that may be your best bet. They aren’t likely to get nicer and are probably making your other fish miserable.

 

[Fonn]

Try to remove your blue damsels from the tank and temporarily house them in the sump. In the mean time, buy whatever fish you wish to keep and let them establish in the tank for a while, let say a month or two. Then, re introduce your blue damsels back and remember - these damsels are your last 2 fish introduced. After that, do not buy anymore fish or you'll have to go over the whole process again. This method has worked wonder for me. I love my blue devil damsels, they are cheap, but beautiful.

 

[SimbaAnto]

Thank you for the suggestion. I will move them to sump after the overflow section. I too like them as they are hardy, colorful and especially cheap. Ok I will move them and keep posted how it goes

 

[stanleo]

You should have gotten my blue damsel. He is afraid of everyone in the tank and stays around his little cave.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I have blue devil damsel and he does “bully” the other fish but only when first introduced, what I’ve found is they are territorial so if you find them bullying you can change the aquascape to give all yr fish a “new tank” and let everyone choose where they want to be, also keeping them very well fed will limit aggression

 

[G Santana]

Damsels are related to Al Capone, don't look at them cross or else

 

[jphilip813]

My yellow tails are just as bad...they attack the syphon when I clean and attack my hands when I put my hands in the tank...I have 5 of them and they are all territorial to some extent...

 

[Martin Turrubiates]

Hey guys. I am new to this forum and hobby as well. I have two Blue devil Damsels. It's bullying a lot on firefish, chromis, sometimes coral beauty.

I even lost a chromis because of that. Any suggestions or experience will.be helpful

Any suggestions to overcome. I have a Red Sea 350. It's a reef tank.

Do you have a picture of your tank if you give them lots of hiding spots that helps to I have 2 in my tank and they been great I’ve had them for around 5 months and one bites me when I get near his little spot the other don’t he runs but I have noticed with the hiding posts they have been ok and leave the other fish alone I have four chromis , fire fish, yellow tang, hippo tang , two pjs the damsels I have are a Allen’s and a yellow tail the mean one is the yellow tail the allens tend to not be aggressive

 

[Fishnut]

I have to agree with Fonn, They are great beautiful active fish. The trick is make them the last fish added to the tank. I had best luck when adding in groups of three. If you like blue damsels get a male ( yellow tail) and a female or two that are all blue. I use shells to make claves for them in multiple areas of the tank. Other tank mates will learn where the damsel’s territory is and avoid it when possible. If they forget the damsels will remind them but no harm ever done.

 

[jphilip813]

I have to agree with Fonn, They are great beautiful active fish. The trick is make them the last fish added to the tank. I had best luck when adding in groups of three. If you like blue damsels get a male ( yellow tail) and a female or two that are all blue. I use shells to make claves for them in multiple areas of the tank. Other tank mates will learn where the damsel’s territory is and avoid it when possible. If they forget the damsels will remind them but no harm ever done.

Question, how can you tell the difference between a male and female? I have 5 yellow tails and they all generally look the same size. I also I have two green chromis, one is definitely larger than the other...

 

[Kris 2020]

Damsels are related to Al Capone, don't look at them cross or else

 

[Fishnut]

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I think that one of the tricks to keeping aggressive fish together in a tank is to have plenty of structure in there. I have kept blue and Javanese (Blue Velvet Neon) Damsels with clowns, angels, etc. and have had no problems.

 

[SimbaAnto]

Here is my Damsel. And my tank

 

[SimbaAnto]

Right now it has burrowed a spot under a rock and spitting all the sand on my sps. Also that spot was initially used by firefish.

 

[av8soulfly]

I usually place a Springeri blue damsel in with corals. They are mellow and love flat worms. Blue devils are just that...devils.

 

[Martin Turrubiates]

Question, how can you tell the difference between a male and female? I have 5 yellow tails and they all generally look the same size. I also I have two green chromis, one is definitely larger than the other...

The males are usually larger and more slender they take care of the eggs so they usually are also more ag