Possible impulse buy

[mosertree]

So I stopped at the pet store today and they had this really pretty new fish! Small dark blue with bright light blue spots! It was called a Jewel Damsel. I asked the sales lady about it and she said it was reef safe and would get along with my clownfish and Ruby dragonet. So I bought it and it looks so great in my tank, but now I’m reading that they can grow into big ugly bullies! Anyone have one of these fish?

 

[PicassoClown04]

I have never kept them in a tank, but I’ve been diving with them in the Caribbean for 7 years now (like 400 dives). They’re definitely not the most aggressive, and I have never been attacked even though I’ve gotten less than 1” from a clutch of eggs guarded by them. They have a pretty wide range of coloration as adults, some turn almost completely black and some keep quite a bit of the blue I think it’s probably a genetic thing but maybe it also has to do with diet. They do grow to be fairly large (for a damsel) so I hope your tank is pretty spacious!

 

[King Turkey]

Any damsel are jerks mine terrorizes my tank. The other fish I have fisht back. But it killed fish stressing em out 24/7 a algae blennie, transparent Rock goby 3 chromis and the damsel that I got it with as a pair.. survived fish clown fish, splendid dotty back, neon dotty, scooter blenny( I think it's just brain dead and doesn't care about anything.) A cleaner shrimp. Sanils.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Jewel is pretty and make a point to research impulse buys as its not "possible" but a purchase. The Jewel Damselfish is an overly aggressive fish, so usually only one should be kept per tank. An aquarium of 50 gallons or larger will provide a suitable environment. Although very aggressive they are considered reef safe. They can be bullies and stress other occupants out. Also territorial especially to other damsels and clownfish.

 

[CMMorgan]

Damsels in general are little jerks. Think of the tank like a high school, eventually the bully quarterback is going to stuff the little guy into a toilet and give it a swirly. The fun part is that eventually a bigger bully comes along to put the first one in his place. Point being... in the long run... it's survive or die. You'll lose fish, you'll add fish. Eventually, they will all grow up, get jobs and drink wine.