Do people still keep Damselfish?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Before you say “ yes, you have clownfish”…don’t! lol!

Didn’t we all have damsels when we first started? Domino, yellow tale, striped, evil little devils!

What about now?

Anyone keeping the Azure Damselfish?

 

[commod0re]

I’m planning to probably get a springeri damsel for my new tank

 

[X-37B]

I keep a yellowtail in my 150. I have a large damsel, hard to get a pic, and I dont remember the name but its the size of my Tomini tang. I keep it in my 50.
Honey Red Damsel. Gets to 5" and is already that size.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Nope, had them in the last tank. They ganged up and bullied. Never again

 

[X-37B]

Nope, had them in the last tank. They ganged up and bullied. Never again

Yea I started with 5 now 1. They do well by themselves though.

 

[exnisstech]

I have 2 Talbot's 1 azure and 1 yellow tail in my 330. 1 springeri in a 40 breeder and a neon blue in my 65g

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have 2 Talbot's 1 azure and 1 yellow tail in my 330. 1 springeri in a 40 breeder and a neon blue in my 65g

No issues?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Anyone keeping the Azure Damselfish?

Absolutely, I have two and one is right below the red tree sponge. :)

 

[BriDroid]

I have an azure in my 40. He can be a bit of a butt, but mostly behaved. They’re just so pretty!!!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Absolutely, I have two and one is right below the red tree sponge. :)

That's beautiful!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Never had one. Always heard horror stories of them being bullies towards other fish, so I never ended up getting one.

 

[mfinn]

Back in the day when I started my first tank, it was the recommended starter fish.
Hardy and cheap.
But once the tank was cycled and up and running, I couldn't wait to move on from these types of fish and all the newbie implication's. lol

 

[Ef4life]

I have a lemon damsel, he’s an *****. I didn’t buy it, got it with a tank break down. It’s quite large and not really aggressive but definitely pushy. I had some little mushroom containers with gravel in the bottom for weight and for mushrooms to attach, he will remove the gravel piece by piece with his mouth and toss them all Over the frag tank letting the mushrooms out and the containers to float away in the current

 

[exnisstech]

No issues?

The 4 together in the 330 each have their own spot in the rocks. They come out to feed but the tank is large enough and fed heavily so they don't have to compete. I've never seen anything more than a quick chase when one gets to close to another in their territory. I did start with 3 Talbot's and one went mia. I also have 9 tangs and think having them cruising around the tank may keep the damsels distracted from each other. They've been together over 2 years.
The springeri only has a possum wrasse as a mate and I've never seen aggression. The wrasse isn't out much but it behaved the same in two other tanks.
The neon is buds with a sixline and they hang out together. Often I see the damsel posturung and the sixline cleaning it. Its fun to watch. The only other fish in the tank are two tangs.
Just speculation on my part but often I think people put them in tanks too small without enough rock or tanks large enough without enough rock and then add other small but peaceful fish which become victims. I think the same happens with sixlines, which I have 3 of. They're cute little fish with big fish attitude.
I believe enough rock so every fish can have it's own place is critical to curbing aggression along with over feeding. In my 330 I have 24 fish and every single one has it's own place in the rocks where they disappear to when lights go out.

 

[BriDroid]

Never had one. Always heard horror stories of them being bullies towards other fish, so I never ended up getting one.

Mine only has beef with my yellow wrasse. They don't fight, but they flare their fins at each other when the wrasse comes over to hunt pods on the rocks where the azure hangs out.

 

[Privateye]

I still keep an azure. He's in a 10 gallon with a circus goby and some softies....or at least I assume the goby is still there. I see it every couple of years.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That's beautiful!

Thanks. The azure damsels may be forming a pair, and one of them spends a lot of time digging out nests in the sand, though I've not noticed actual spawning (not even sure what to look for lol). FWIW, these guys never seem to bother any other fish, though they also are the smallest fish in the tank.

On a related note in the picture, the new carberryi anthias from Dr Reef really have added greatly to the color and movement in the tank, and I'm very happy with that addition. :)

 

[Ufuk's reef]

I always have damselfish in my 35-gallon reef tank. Of course, they don't suit every tank; they're considered a hardy fish. I took the photo 5 minutes ago without a lens.

 

[slingfox]

I have an azure which likes to find an area towards the bottom of a tank to use as a cave. It doesn’t bother any of the other fish but gets chased around by my male Bimac on rare occasions. The Bimac keeps my group of chromis and solo azure damsel in check.

 

[ReneReef]

As the topic title infers, I must be insane
I’ve got 15 damsels.
All lovely fish. They are awesome!

6 Neopomacentrus cyanomos
1 Vanderbilt’s Chromis
2 Talbot’s damsels
6 Fusilier damsels

May add two roland’s or auriventris in the future.