seabass Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) Damsels While very hardy, most Damselfish have a reputation for becoming territorial and aggressive as they get older (especially the larger varieties). In the past, they were used to cycle new marine aquariums. However, after they are introduced, they can be difficult to remove. Plus today, there are more humane ways to cycle tanks (and rocks). Since a territorial Damsel can become a problem when space is limited, you might consider keeping certain species of Damsels without any other fish tank mates in your nano reef. But in larger aquariums, some Damselfish can even be kept in groups of the same species. Damsels are closely related to Clownfish, and some will even hang out in host anemones like Clownfish do. Also, like Clownfish, Damselfish change gender as they mature. Most are considered to be reef-safe, Damsels are omnivores. They accept most prepared dry and frozen marine foods. Offer a varied diet of meaty items (including flakes, pellets, and frozen preparations). Being omnivores, herbivore preparations should also be occasionally offered. Blue Sapphire Damselfish (Chrysiptera springeri) Max Size: 2" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia Species Notes: The Blue Sapphire Damsel can quickly turn completely black when stressed, allowing them to evade predators. Tracey's Damselfish (Chrysiptera traceyi) Max Size: 2" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Fiji Neon Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni) Max Size: 2.5" Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia, Sri Lanka Talbot's Damselfish (Chrysiptera talboti) Max Size: 2.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Coral Sea, Indonesia, Philippines Rolland's Damselfish (Chrysiptera rollandi) a.k.a. Black Cap Damselfish Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Fiji, Indonesia Species Notes: A small group of juvenile Black Cap Damsels can be kept in a suitably sized aquarium with other semi-aggressive fish, as they can become territorial as they mature. Lemon Damselfish (Pomacentrus moluccensis) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Western Pacific Sapphire Damselfish (Pomacentrus pavo) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific Species Notes: The Sapphire Damselfish is considered less aggressive than some Damsels. Ternate Damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific Yellowtail Damselfish (Chrysiptera parasema) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific Species Notes: The Yellowtail Damsel can be kept in small groups of odd numbered fish in suitably sized systems. It's considered one of the least aggressive members of this genus. Similar Damselfish (Pomacentrus similis) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia Species Notes: Might be less aggressive than some other Damsels. Fiji Blue Devil Damselfish (Chrysiptera taupou) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Fiji, Tonga Pink Smith Damselfish (Pomacentrus smithii) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific, Solomon Species Notes: A small group can reside in an appropriately sized aquarium. Orangetail Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea) Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Australia, Indonesia, Melanesia Pink Demoiselle (Chrysiptera rex) a.k.a. King Damselfish Max Size: 3" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific Blue and Gold Damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis) Max Size: 3.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific Ambon Damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) Max Size: 3.5" Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Fiji, Tonga, Marshall Islands Two Stripe Damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus) Max Size: 3.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia, Tonga Starcki Damsel (Chrysiptera starcki) Max Size: 3.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Australia, Java, Melanesia, Tonga Species Notes: Generally considered less aggressive than most other Damsels. Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea) Max Size: 3.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia, Solomon Islands Four Stripe Damselfish (Dascyllus melanurus) Max Size: 3.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia Three Stripe Damselfish (Dascyllus aruanus) Max Size: 4" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Fiji, Indonesia Regal Demoiselle (Neopomacentrus cyanomos) Max Size: 4" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Maldives Species Notes: It's possilbe to keep amall shoals of Regal Demoiselle appropriately sized aquariums. Golden Domino Damselfish (Dascyllus auripinnis) Max Size: 4.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indo-Pacific, Fiji Black and Gold Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) a.k.a. Black and Gold Chromis, Behn's Damsel Max Size: 5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Western Pacific, Indian Ocean Three Spot Domino Damselfish (Dascyllus trimaculatus) Max Size: 5.5" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Philippines Blue Velvet Damselfish (Paraglyphidodon oxyodon) Max Size: 6" Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Indonesia Bluefin Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon melas) Max Size: 7" Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: With Caution Origin: Indo-Pacific Species Notes: May be a threat to shrimp, and may nip at soft corals. Jewel Damselfish (Microspathodon chrysurus) Max Size: 8" Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons Care level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Origin: Western Atlantic Photos by Edited July 25, 2021 by seabass 3 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 Might be worth adding chrysiptera rex in too since they occasionally pop up. Another honorable mention would the the black striped chromis, they do not mate, behave, school, or look like chromis; instead they have the same cave-dwelling, territorial displays and tendencies as chrysiptera. Additional side-note; there's some dispute at to whether or not chrisiptera springeri does, or does not consume flatworms. There's quite a bit of evidence that they will not eat larger LPS flatworms, and a fair amount of evidence that they may graze on aocel and acropora pests (not just flatworms and likely not to a degree necessary to manage a pest population), planaria are, again, debatable. Regarding flatworms, other animals in the chryiptera genus appear to also have a mild to moderate grazing tendency toward smaller flatworms, I have personal experience with rollands doing so; additionally rollands may try to keep a section of the tank covered in low, closely-manicured algae -possibly to farm pods or for the algae itself, perhaps to mark territory- but it doesn't always seem to happen in our systems and I can only guess as to what the behavior might be. Extra side note; smaller chrysiptera may shoal and inhabit suitably-large colonies of SPS; stags, poci, and stylo are favorites (but you need a larger system). 1 Quote Link to comment
blasterman Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 I have two yellow tails and a blue saphire in my 20L and they all get along. Also inexpensive. Aggression is relative. 3 stripes are pretty nasty along with larger velvets, but they can't stand their ground when faced with a purple psudeochromis. 2 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted July 25, 2021 Author Share Posted July 25, 2021 4 hours ago, A.m.P said: Might be worth adding chrysiptera rex in too since they occasionally pop up. Another honorable mention would the the black striped chromis Added: Pink Demoiselle (Chrysiptera rex) Black and Gold Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) 2 Quote Link to comment
blasterman Posted July 25, 2021 Share Posted July 25, 2021 Local reef shop had a velvet damsel about 5" long which is massive for a captive damsel. Gorgeous fish but incompatible with anything, including larger angels. So, they kept him in the 220 live rock tank where he was happy by himself. Cool thread and great research. Damsels are under rated and often abused in the hobby. I would rather have any of the species above than watch a pair of clown fish dumbly hump a corner all day 1 1 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 I didn't realize you'd asked for pictures.Rollandi (True, not black-dominant) Springeri 2 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Wanted to hop back in here and give an update, I ran a little experiment where I removed the Rollandi from my system for around three weeks to see if algae re-grew, and it did within a week's time. After adding the damselfish back into the system all the various types of long hair algae, stringy and odd tube-like algae, and even some of the chrysopytes vanished within three days. I hadn't thought to take pictures because I hadn't planned on sharing, I was just curious and somewhat thoughtless about the whole thing honestly, that aside it appears some Rollands damselfish actually do graze on and eat algae. Literature already mentions or implies this, but it was odd enough that I decided to see if I could find out for myself. I might add a juvi to my 40 breeder and see if it tackles the hair and turf algae in that system, but Rollandi appear to be very, very aggressive towards algae they don't find palatable; every time I've added macro to the rolland's system it promptly shreds it. Given my 40 breeder is somewhat macro-focused, well I'm pretty hesitant about running that experiment to say the least lol. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment
mcarroll Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 On 10/27/2021 at 11:31 AM, A.m.P said: After adding the damselfish back into the system all the various types of long hair algae, stringy and odd tube-like algae, and even some of the chrysopytes vanished within three days. I've had a theory that could be the case for a long time.....thank you for experimenting!!! To boot I recently (finally!!) ran into a journal article where they were looking at this group of damsel's diet. "Herbivore" or "Omnivore".....looks like herbivore, but when they opened up samples and tested, the variety (or lack of, depending on which damsel) in their diets was VERY interesting. Not entirely what was expected. In a nutshell, they don't seem to eat algae for the algae....very often. More often it's "all the other stuff" that grows/collects with the algae. Here's the post that has the article I mentioned (two actually...2nd is the one mentioned above)...tell me if you get a chance to read them! 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 8 hours ago, mcarroll said: Here's the post that has the article I mentioned (two actually...2nd is the one mentioned above)...tell me if you get a chance to read them! I'd read the bit on farming (animals are so much more intelligent [we're conveniently also much less intelligent] than we give credit for) and the old 96'97' gastric analysis before actually, IIRC they mostly focused on bigger, "meaner" damsels (neoglyphidodon specifically? I'll have to re-read later and check) and the answer was somewhere along the line of "yes they eat algae, but also no they eat detritus and microcrustaceans, but also they actively garden and maintain certain types of algae and we're not certain if it's because they need both or even which is more important". Given how varied chrysiptera are, especially considering how different micro-populations of talbot, rollands, and springers can be (size, appearance, level of aggression/territory size), it's probably not unreasonable to bet on each geographic location also having a different diet and algae-grooming habit, some might not bother at all (like those who report springers either destroying or not even pecking-at flatworms) and others might make a noticeable difference in our systems. All I can say for certain is; some papers and species-registers list Rollands as omnivores or herbivores, mine absolutely hates halimenia, doesn't bother bryothamnion, and keeps algae in the tank too-low/well-groomed to be seen. Quote Link to comment
mcarroll Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Check out the 2nd of the two articles I linked then....it covers a lot more species and is "modern". 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment
Xj reefing Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 I don’t think you already have a Stegastes apicalis on the list. I have no idea if these are kept in aquariums but they are commonly called Australian Gregory’s and grow up to 6 inches. Multiple of the little buggers bit me on my recent trip to the reef. 1 2 Quote Link to comment
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