Damsels in a big reef

[Oscaror]

So I'm upgrading to a big reef (like BIG big (somewhere like 500 gallons)) in a few years, have already begun plans. I'm thinking of having a a large angel, a medium andgel, 3 dwarf angels, and two- three tangs. and the rest will be small/nano fish.
Do you think that because of the presence of large fish like an emperor angel, that yellow tail damsels won't pick on fish because they won't be the kings (or emperors :lol:) of the tank?

 

[veselym]

They will still be aggressive...its their nature

 

[mike007]

All damsels can be very aggressive. Once you add them to reef tank it is very difficult to get them out. Why would you want to take that chance?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yellow Tails are some of the meanest lil dudes you could put in any tank, no matter the size.

 

[guidedbyechoes]

Yellow tails are the least aggressive of the real damsels

 

[tyler1503]

I love that the last 2 comments are in direct contradiction of each other. It just reminds me how nothing in this hobby fits any particular rule.
Out of all damsels I recommend talbots damsel. A great little fish, nice colour and mine didn't get aggressive. He was getting bullied by a domino damsel, in the end both had to go.

 

[fishroomlady]

I think if you add them last, the yellow tails can go either way - I have one that was one of the last fish added to my tank and it's really very mellow surprisingly

 

[Pcreefer]

I got some on my 300 gallon and them suckers are mean don't get them trying to catch mine

 

[guidedbyechoes]

I love that the last 2 comments are in direct contradiction of each other. It just reminds me how nothing in this hobby fits any particular rule.
Out of all damsels I recommend talbots damsel. A great little fish, nice colour and mine didn't get aggressive. He was getting bullied by a domino damsel, in the end both had to go.

It just tells you its a fairly mean fish, but not that mean as far as damsels go. And to clarify what I meant by real damsels chromis and clowns are also considered damsels

 

[charliethetuna]

Ive got 5 damsels in my 300 all the blue type two with yellow tall two with yellow belly and one springer they try and be a little bossy but ive got big tangs and wrasses and they all ignore the damsels

 

[eatbreakfast]

Damsels in the Genus Chrysiptera are less ggressive than other damsels and should do just fine. If you get multiples of the same species they will be more concerned with conspecifics than other fish. Some of the commonly available are talbots, rolands, azure, yellowtail, and springeri.

 

[juggalogentry]

i had a few bluefin in my tank and it took two deaths, three diy traps, and finally breaking down the scape and removing them manually before i ended my nightmare. Thats just my personal experience with what i was told to be "less aggressive"

 

[charliethetuna]

Mine are like what eatbreakfast said there more concerend about each other in a large tank than with other fish .they all have there owne spots and protect it from the other damsels .its actually pretty cool to watch .hey whats a reef without damsels

 

[psirex]

Yellow tail or Fiji damsel are a good route..... STAY AWAY FROM DOMINO'S

 

[Oscaror]

Whoa. This thread sparked a lot of passionate replies.
I love the look of damsels, like angelfish that always stay small and cute. But knew it was best not to get them.
The rockwork would be built in a way where there would be few crevices for them to hide in, so removing them would be no issue.
But if that's not an option, does anyone know of a different fish that has a similar look?
Chromis is not a suggestion I'm looking for, because I'm already planning on adding them.

 

[Salinas Hawk]

I have nine Blue Devils, The solid blue Fiji ones. I added them with a Latz, five small yellow tangs, and three lyetail Anthias. The tangs chase each other around, and the damsels chase each other around. Nobody pays attention to the Anthias or the clown. The tank is only a 180.

It's been about two months, and so far so good, but it feels like a ticking time bomb. If the damsels kill each other, so be it. If they kill the Anthias, errrrrr. The Latz Clown is about 4 inches, nobody messes with it.

I dont plan on adding any new fish... Unless a royal rumble breaks out. It could be pandemonium!

 

[Salinas Hawk]

In a 500g, with lots of cool small fish, and new fish being added from time to time, damsels seem like a bad idea. But if they will be the only small fish, you might have better odds. I'm just repeating what reefkeepers with more experience warned me about.

 

[Z06-Hec]

I have had Damsels in the past with an Emp angel and Majestic Angel. The Angels of course were boss but the Damsels did not care. Anytime I stuck my arm in tank they would attack.... Mean lil suckers.

 

[NVRENUF]

I have two
one is a blue and yellow fin
other
is white and black stripe

no issues (8foot) tank.
if anything the clown fish was giving the 3 stripe a going.,

 

[jschultzbass]

I have two blue yellow tails that are actually really good, don't bother my clowns, anthias or really anything else. I just may be lucky though.