Aggressive Damsel Fish

[wolcoski]

I just set up a 50 gallon tank, and want to create a reef tank. I have three damsel fish (Rolland's Damsel Fish). Two of them bully the third, who is now stuck in the top of the tank in the corner and everytime he tries to come down they chase him back. They are all eating fine... Is there anyway for them to get along.. or should I donate them before I add any other fish. I have one cleaner shrimp in the tank as well and it just 'molted' now I am wondering how big this thing gets too... Can any one offer some advice?

[leebca]

You will not be able to make them get along. They will badger the other fish until it gives up its life. Find a new home for either the two or the one, unless you want to live with a divider in your tank to separate them.

[wolcoski]

I was chatting with the lfs today & he says he will take my damsel fish back no problem. I added two Fire
Fish to the tank today and they all seem distracted with terrorizing the newbies. Now I am wondering if I should be getting rid of all of them... someone told me they are the most aggessive of the damsel fish. Not sure of my next step. Any suggestions are welcome.

[Ninong]

I have one cleaner shrimp in the tank as well and it just 'molted' now I am wondering how big this thing gets too...

You have a Lysmata amboinensis. It's adult size is about 3". It has a natural lifespan of about three years. In most reef tanks, they live two to four years. You should add another one so that you will have a mated pair. Any two will form a pair. They're hermaphodites.

Watch that your damsel fish don't cause your firefish to jump out of your tank.

[ToddTT]

I just set up a 50 gallon tank

How long has the tank been set up?

[leebca]

Damselfishes can and usually are 'pushy.' They eventually think they own the tank. They are brave, hardy, and a tough fish, in general. Now if you add to that general behavior a personality of the same type, you can end up with a real 'tank-terror.'

Tricks may work. Taking them out for a few weeks, rearranging the landscaping, then returning them to the tank where all other fishes have settled in can sometimes shift their behavior.

[bm20747]

You should replace them, I had one that killed 6 percula clown fish, I even tried taking him out of the tank for a couple of weeks to no avail. Give them back to the Local Fish Store.

[ToddTT]

You should replace them, I had one that killed 6 percula clown fish, I even tried taking him out of the tank for a couple of weeks to no avail. Give them back to the Local Fish Store.

If this is a new tank, see if you can exchange all of your fish for more live rock. And start adding livestock at a later date.

Have you seen the ammonia spike of the cycle yet?

[wolcoski]

I just set my tank up a month and half ago. I rearranged the live rock (made more hiding spots) and the damsels seem confused but are still being bullies and the fire fish are now hanging out in the top part of the tank...

The ammonia spike and nitrates were up but have all returned to zero now for the past few weeks. I had cured live rock to start. I will take back the damsel fish to the lfs - should I take one or two... I don't want them to turn into 'killers'

I am planning a friendly community with some soft corals.

[ToddTT]

I just set my tank up a month and half ago. I rearranged the live rock (made more hiding spots) and the damsels seem confused but are still being bullies and the fire fish are now hanging out in the top part of the tank...

The ammonia spike and nitrates were up but have all returned to zero now for the past few weeks. I had cured live rock to start. I will take back the damsel fish to the lfs - should I take one or two... I don't want them to turn into 'killers'

I am planning a friendly community with some soft corals.

If they are taking them, return all of the damsels.

Good sources of info for behavior, requirements, etc.:

Saltwater Fish: Marine Aquarium Fish for Saltwater Aquariums

Marine Compatability Chart

Find A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species 1999 Scott W. Michael 1890087386 9781890087388 - Direct Textbook

[wolcoski]

After a lot of work, and removing all the live rock from the tank I managed to catch the damsel fish. I returned them to the lfs and used the credit for another cleaner shrimp and a red leopard wrasse... I feel kinda sad about the damsels

I will be purchasing the Reef Fish book Todd recommended before I add anything else to the tank.

[wolcoski]

You should replace them, I had one that killed 6 percula clown fish, I even tried taking him out of the tank for a couple of weeks to no avail. Give them back to the Local Fish Store.

I took them all back, felt kinda sad but didn't want the other ones terrorized to death. That's awful about your clown fish! Thank you for your help.

The flame fish are now happily swimming around the tank, so I feel less guilty!

[ToddTT]

I took them all back, felt kinda sad but didn't want the other ones terrorized to death. That's awful about your clown fish! Thank you for your help.

The flame fish are now happily swimming around the tank, so I feel less guilty!

Excellent! I'm positive you made the right choice.

Those happy firefish can't get sucked into any plumbing, right?

Also, they can be jumpers, do you have any sort of cover on your tank?

[wolcoski]

I have a cover on the tank but there is a 2" opening... and I am buying a T5 Sunlight unit that will be mounted by brackets and the top will soon be completely open

lfs told me the space between the cover and water level needed to 'vent' so there wasn't gas build up in the air pocket there - is this true? If I plan a open top... should I kiss those flame fish goodbye oohh what is a newbie to do?

I know, buy the Marine Fish book... I'm going, I'm going

[algy1943]

I just set up a 50 gallon tank, and want to create a reef tank. I have three damsel fish (Rolland's Damsel Fish). Two of them bully the third, who is now stuck in the top of the tank in the corner and everytime he tries to come down they chase him back. They are all eating fine... Is there anyway for them to get along.. or should I donate them before I add any other fish. I have one cleaner shrimp in the tank as well and it just 'molted' now I am wondering how big this thing gets too... Can any one offer some advice?

They are a real pain, I have 2 humbugs and I introduced 3 blue Damsels, the 2 humbugs terrorised 2 of the blues and they died, the 3rd stood up to them and has survived, the have now been moved into a 250L tank and the all get on quite well.

algy1943

[averycole]

If you really want to keep the first two fish, I would recommend removing them from the tank for 2 to 3 days, or until the 3rd becomes comfortable in the tank. This will disrupt the territoriality of the 1st two, making them claim what will be the 3rd's turf after the separation. I have used this technique on both freshwater and my damselfish, it seems to be effective, however, you may have to repeat this process in the future if you add other fish of a size the damsels can bully. Damsels are hardy, and in good health they can handle the relocation. I would not recommend using this technique with less hardy fish or those will any illness, as the move may be too stressful for the fish.