Damsels are not reef safe!

[backbayreef]

Didn’t know this but this bad boy ate a few zoas and decimated another colony while I was away. I caught him in the act when I got home so spent the next hour & scooped him away to a holding tank — bad, bad damsel!!!

 

[JumboShrimp]

The video is a little dark-- but is that a full size Domino?

 

[Llyod276]

No the coloration is too dark. Fully grown they turn more greenish blue... and the white spots become less noticeable...

 

[JumboShrimp]

My second guess is an adult Neon Velvet. (I've owned both, full grown), but I'm having a hard time telling from the video.

 

[Llyod276]

Domino damsel all the way. I had 3 of them at one point and 2 turned greenish blue, before a powercut/outage killed my tank...

 

[backbayreef]

My second guess is an adult Neon Velvet. (I've owned both, full grown), but I'm having a hard time telling from the video.

Yes — I have 2 full grown ones. One of them was eating my zoas so I yanked both.

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Didn’t know this but this bad boy ate a few zoas and decimated another colony while I was away. I caught him in the act when I got home so spent the next hour & scooped him away to a holding tank — bad, bad damsel!!!

I read this in a very old post. That's why I never plan to keep large damselfish with corals.

 

[backbayreef]

I read this in a very old post. That's why I never plan to keep large damselfish with corals.

Now I know — gonna get rid of all damsels next time I clean the frag tank.

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Now I know — gonna get rid of all damsels next time I clean the frag tank.

Well, in fact, most small damselfish are reef safe. I have a yellowtail in my 20g tank, with lots of soft corals (the zoas disappeared long before I put the damselfish in. Lol).

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How much/how often do you feed your fish?

 

[backbayreef]

How much/how often do you feed your fish?

Feed pellets 3x a day. On weekends, I usually feed frozen another 1-2 cubes/day. Most of the fish are fat though.

Well, in fact, most small damselfish are reef safe. I have a yellowtail in my 20g tank, with lots of soft corals (the zoas disappeared long before I put the damselfish in. Lol).

You’re right - the little dudes don’t bother corals. Looks like the adult damsels can be risky.

Learned something new — all my 30+ years in the hobby, I didn’t know that damsels can eat corals!

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

I've seen my Pavo damsel pick at large headed zoas/palys, but I always suspected he was picking at something between the stalks. Now I am wondering...

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Feed pellets 3x a day. On weekends, I usually feed frozen another 1-2 cubes/day. Most of the fish are fat though.


You’re right - the little dudes don’t bother corals. Looks like the adult damsels can be risky.

Learned something new — all my 30+ years in the hobby, I didn’t know that damsels can eat corals!

I meant that the smaller damselfish species (yellowtail, kupang, etc.) are mostly reef-safe. Lol.

 

[areefer01]

Very misleading thread title. What works for one may not work for another. Fish like humans have their own personality. I currently have 11 Biota Lyretail damsels and they are reef safe in my environment. Prior to these I had 7 Sapphires, 1 Surge, and 1 Azure. Again all are reef safe in my environment. Prior to those I had 3 Talbots. You know the drill, reef safe in my environment.

Amount of rock, coral size (frag vs colony), feeding regiment, and other livestock make a huge difference in both my opinion and experience. I feed hourly between the hours of 0830 and 1830. These feedings are via an auto feeder, mixed blend of Hikari, TDO, and PE Mysis which also includes pellet size. This way everyone has an opportunity to get something. I feed at least 1 frozen feeding which is rotated through my stock. LRS Reef, Nano, Fish, PE Mysis, Brine, Prime Reef, and an angel blend.

Another reefer here, @ca1ore had 60+ damsels in his 450 mixed reef. Nothing major to report. A mix of Azures and another I forget which.

More often than not damsels in the genus of Chrysiptera are what we are after for both coral and aggression safety. Even then we can't interview the damsel before so they may have that personality...

 

[Lavey29]

I've got a bunch of damsels and no coral issues.

 

[backbayreef]

Very misleading thread title. What works for one may not work for another. Fish like humans have their own personality. I currently have 11 Biota Lyretail damsels and they are reef safe in my environment. Prior to these I had 7 Sapphires, 1 Surge, and 1 Azure. Again all are reef safe in my environment. Prior to those I had 3 Talbots. You know the drill, reef safe in my environment.

Amount of rock, coral size (frag vs colony), feeding regiment, and other livestock make a huge difference in both my opinion and experience. I feed hourly between the hours of 0830 and 1830. These feedings are via an auto feeder, mixed blend of Hikari, TDO, and PE Mysis which also includes pellet size. This way everyone has an opportunity to get something. I feed at least 1 frozen feeding which is rotated through my stock. LRS Reef, Nano, Fish, PE Mysis, Brine, Prime Reef, and an angel blend.

Another reefer here, @ca1ore had 60+ damsels in his 450 mixed reef. Nothing major to report. A mix of Azures and another I forget which.

More often than not damsels in the genus of Chrysiptera are what we are after for both coral and aggression safety. Even then we can't interview the damsel before so they may have that personality...

I promise you - not my intention as a click bait. I’ve always thought that all damsels don’t eat corals (in this case, zoas) for as long as I’ve been in the hobby. I’ve kept various species of damsels over the years with much success but this particular adult Neon Velvet came from a friend of mine six months ago. It's my first time raising this particular species, esp an adult. That is why I'm in shock to learn that damsels can eat corals!

 

[backbayreef]

I've got a bunch of damsels and no coral issues.

I have damsels for so many years across many tanks without any issues. However, it’s my first time getting “bitten” by them ;)

 

[Lavey29]

I have damsels for so many years across many tanks without any issues. However, it’s my first time getting “bitten” by them ;)

If their hungry for zoas then their not getting enough filling food. I feed strictly frozen twice a day with maybe a pellet snack in the middle but not often.

 

[backbayreef]

If their hungry for zoas then their not getting enough filling food. I feed strictly frozen twice a day with maybe a pellet snack in the middle but not often.

Definitely - my schedule hasn’t changed: 3x pellets during the day and frozen cubes at night. Anyway, I’m done with large damsels for now - going to give them away and just keep the smaller species since their belly isn’t that big! lol

 

[areefer01]

I promise you - not my intention as a click bait. I’ve always thought that all damsels don’t eat corals (in this case, zoas) for as long as I’ve been in the hobby. I’ve kept various species of damsels over the years with much success but this particular adult Neon Velvet came from a friend of mine six months ago. It's my first time raising this particular species, esp an adult. That is why I'm in shock to learn that damsels can eat corals!

Oh, I'm not saying you are wrong or didn't witness it just saying that as I read the thread title to me made it sound like all are not reef safe. There are a couple hundred if not more damsels so anything is possible.