Damsel Aggression

[bluemon]

I do have coral and inverts. I’ve got 4 crabs (hermit and emerald) and one coral frag.

I’ll try and figure something out. But honestly the damsel is the thing that is the problem here.

I disagree, I would say ich is the bigger problem.

You say you plan on adding new fish, which is why the damsel is in limbo, but are you willing to put a death sentence to any new fish you add to the tank?

 

[larrysaltisfun]

True, but OP can just do hypo without any risks to future inverts.

Point well taken

 

[Lavey29]

You have a special case as you have multiple damsels. Damsels will more likely fight amongst themselves than be aggressive toward other non conspecifics

It has to do more with the environment and allowing for territorial type fish to have their space. My 2 yellow tails like the OP mentions have their own defined space hence no fighting. Same with the other damsels in the tank which also includes clown.

I also have a coral beauty and flame angel in the same tank. CB was pummeling the flame angel when I added him. Put a mirror on the front and 3 days later all aggression stopped and they are fine together.

 

[Tcook]

I don’t think there will be adequate territory for damsels, clowns , flame hawk, and six line in a 30 gallon tank. Hopefully, all those fish have not been purchased.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don’t think there will be adequate territory for damsels, clowns , flame hawk, and six line in a 30 gallon tank. Hopefully, all those fish have not been purchased.

Agree, these are aggressive fish in a very small tank.

 

[Tom800]

Just to add my two cents in, I have a 180 gallon tank and I have five is damsels and they caused a lot of aggression and stress in the tank and did I suspect lead to ick outbreaks. I ended up having to catch them all and remove them from the tank and things have been calmer. The problem with these types of damsels is that they are aggressive towards every type of fish in my experience, even tangs sometimes.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

I’ve had a single velvet damsel in a community tank for about 12 years. I had no idea how big those suckers can get. Mine is between five and 6 inches. He is the most passive fish although he looks like a murderer . He’s actually kind of timid and gets chased around by my fox face rabbit fish every once in a while.

 

[SaltyMix]

I disagree, I would say ich is the bigger problem.

You say you plan on adding new fish, which is why the damsel is in limbo, but are you willing to put a death sentence to any new fish you add to the tank?

I ended up removing all the fish and hitting up petco’s sale for tanks and set up a second coral quarantine plus a 15 gallon for the damsel to be in for a little while after she’s fully quarantined with the clowns.

I am letting the display go fallow and it freaking sucks but I did all the reading I could on ich and you’re right, it’s the best choice.

Maybe a few months in he 15 gallon will help her reset her territory. My plan is to add her back in after I quarantine/go fallow through mid-August, then add the clowns to the display, quarantinea flame hawkfish and let him have a month in the display.m THEN add the damsel back in. It’ll be a mess of tanks hidden away in bathrooms, but I think it will work.

Not gonna lie, for a second I just wanted to give up since I also had a baby horse get sick this weekend and to have my little slice of ocean under threat was a little too much stress. But I feel better with a plan and having put some things in motion.

 

[Tcook]

Sounds like a great plan. Will save you a lot of potential frustration. We have all been there.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Good luck with the ich and I hope your horse gets well fast

 

[Lavey29]

I ended up removing all the fish and hitting up petco’s sale for tanks and set up a second coral quarantine plus a 15 gallon for the damsel to be in for a little while after she’s fully quarantined with the clowns.

I am letting the display go fallow and it freaking sucks but I did all the reading I could on ich and you’re right, it’s the best choice.

Maybe a few months in he 15 gallon will help her reset her territory. My plan is to add her back in after I quarantine/go fallow through mid-August, then add the clowns to the display, quarantinea flame hawkfish and let him have a month in the display.m THEN add the damsel back in. It’ll be a mess of tanks hidden away in bathrooms, but I think it will work.

Not gonna lie, for a second I just wanted to give up since I also had a baby horse get sick this weekend and to have my little slice of ocean under threat was a little too much stress. But I feel better with a plan and having put some things in motion.

Make sure you can measure your copper levels in the QT tank so you maintain. 025 for 30 days.

 

[SaltyMix]

Make sure you can measure your copper levels in the QT tank so you maintain. 025 for 30 days.

Already there. I've had some fluctuation as I have dehydration.

 

[SaltyMix]

Good luck with the ich and I hope your horse gets well fast

Thank you! If only fish were so easy to treat as horses are, and i thought horses were fragile babies. The foal is already improving with antibiotics and the fish are all very happy and healthy. They are all eating very well, and the damsel doesn't seem to mind her smaller isolation tank inside the larger qt tank.

 

[SaltyMix]

Sounds like a great plan. Will save you a lot of potential frustration. We have all been there.

Eh it is what it is. But its giving me time to set up a coral qt tank which i'm excited about. I'd love to start a side hobby of fragging corals for local trades and things. My childhood marine biologist dream that's always hung around is so happy right now, even with the problems.

 

[SaltyMix]

It has to do more with the environment and allowing for territorial type fish to have their space. My 2 yellow tails like the OP mentions have their own defined space hence no fighting. Same with the other damsels in the tank which also includes clown.

I also have a coral beauty and flame angel in the same tank. CB was pummeling the flame angel when I added him. Put a mirror on the front and 3 days later all aggression stopped and they are fine together.

This is great to hear. I'm fine with a little aggression but constant aggression is where we need intervention. The mirror is going to be my biggest friend when I get these guys back in the display and then add my flame hawk fish. That guy is my ultimate end goal!

How can i better help the fish have their own defined spaces. i know the clowns would probably settle on an anemome but its too soon for that, so i'm looking into getting colony of hammers starting in my coral qt which i'm just setting up and waiting on items to arrive.

 

[Lavey29]

This is great to hear. I'm fine with a little aggression but constant aggression is where we need intervention. The mirror is going to be my biggest friend when I get these guys back in the display and then add my flame hawk fish. That guy is my ultimate end goal!

How can i better help the fish have their own defined spaces. i know the clowns would probably settle on an anemome but its too soon for that, so i'm looking into getting colony of hammers starting in my coral qt which i'm just setting up and waiting on items to arrive.

Well its more challenging in a small tank obviously but it comes down to rockscape. Having enough rock to provide hiding caves, swim thrus, out of line sight from other fish, etc... of course when your corals fill in this helps also. My tank is 65g. I think there is like 16 fish in there now which includes multiple damsel fish that typically don't do well together in the same mid size tank but it comes down to environment which includes proper amounts of food to keep them fat and happy.