Nasty Damsel

[GoJimmy]

I just had a clownfish die in my 29 gal. It was 1 of 4 fish, lawnmower blenny, pink spot goby, and a 3 stripe damsel. They have all been together for 8 months. I think my damsel killed the clown. There is no sign of illness and although I aquire the damsel and clown from a fellow reefer who had them together for more than a year, I would occasionally see them tussle.
I would like to replace to get my fish count back to 4 but I'm afraid of what tankmates will live with my damsel. I really like him and I don't want to get rid of him. I was thinking of another damsel, maybe a yellow tail blue or something like that, or a banggai cardinal.
I was planning to trap the damsel in an acclimation box in the tank and introduce the new fish and wait a week or so.
Any thoughts on my plan?

 

[4FordFamily]

Damsels should be removed by any means necessary, IMO.

I always remove all rock and coral to catch fish. As much of a pain as it is it beats waiting weeks to catch a fish and get stressed out that I have failed dozens of times. The total time I waste when I don't disassemble I've found is far higher. Fish traps can work well on occasion but at $50 they are not cheap. For people like me with several larger tanks, they're a great investment!

I also get to change and improve my aquascaping!

 

[melypr1985]

Damsels should be removed by any means necessary, IMO.

I always remove all rock and coral to catch fish. As much of a pain as it is it beats waiting weeks to catch a fish and get stressed out that I have failed dozens of times. I also get to change and improve my aquascaping!

+1 especially in a small tank where territories are tiny and overlap.

 

[GoJimmy]

Not going to change my scape. I'm in no hurry to replace. This damsel is brave as !@#$. I attacks me every time my hand is in the tank. He has already swam into my acclimation box because there's food in there. Not to worried about catching him. Just would like some advise on compatible tankmates. It's taken me 10 months to get my scape right and corals positioned perfectly. If I have to change it, I'm not replacing the fish then.

 

[GoJimmy]

Not going to change my scape. I'm in no hurry to replace. This damsel is brave as !@#$. I attacks me every time my hand is in the tank. He has already swam into my acclimation box because there's food in there. Not to worried about catching him. Just would like some advise on compatible tankmates. It's taken me 10 months to get my scape right and corals positioned perfectly. If I have to change it, I'm not replacing the fish then.
Do you think it would work if I keep him in an acclimation box in the tank while the new fish has time to adjust and get comfortable. Maybe a week?

 

[ahiggins]

My clown attacks me LOL
Ive only used damsels to cycle tanks (I know, Im so terrible...) I hate them though.
Theyre mean, they chase things, and a pain to catch.
Although, people say that about 6 lines too...and mine is super sweet.

 

[4FordFamily]

My clown attacks me LOL
Ive only used damsels to cycle tanks (I know, Im so terrible...) I hate them though.
Theyre mean, they chase things, and a pain to catch.
Although, people say that about 6 lines too...and mine is super sweet.

Yeah they're borderline impossible to catch. When they go killing $300 fish you get pretty heated, too

 

[GoJimmy]

My clown attacks me LOL
Ive only used damsels to cycle tanks (I know, Im so terrible...) I hate them though.
Theyre mean, they chase things, and a pain to catch.
Although, people say that about 6 lines too...and mine is super sweet.

It's a small tank and damsels have so much character. Plus I like their colors. Super hardy and easy to keep. But he's a bully for sure!! Lol

 

[eatbreakfast]

It will be near impossible to add anything new to the tank, maybe another watchman goby, but anything other than that and the damsel will quickly kill it.

 

[Tahoe61]

If the acclimation box does not work, in that small of a tank you can simply drain the water into a container and corner the damsel with a clear plastic container such as a sandwich meat container. After a successful capture just put the water back in. Any corals should be fine out of water for the time it takes to catch the fish. I have caught damsels, dwarf angels and wrasses using this method. Sometime digging a depression in the sand so the fish ends up there once the water is removed works well too.

Clowns, Royal Gramma, Cardinals, Cherub Angels (may nip clams), Fish Fish are all good candidates.

Good Luck.