agressive damsels

[Colleen]

I added a couple of clown fish to my 55 gal tank. The tank only had three
damsels and a clean up crew. The damsels were so aggressive with my new
clowns that I took them out and put them in the 10 gal quarantine tank. I
figure that after some time the clowns will get territorial and fight back,
while at the same time the damsels will lose their territory in the larger
tank.
The question is how long should I keep them separated? I don't want to have
to rearrange my tank because I got it just right, ascetically.

Colleen

[Billy]

"Colleen" > wrote in message
...

| The question is how long should I keep them separated?

Indefinately. Damsels are notoriously territorial and aggressive, and
are liable to harass to death any fish not aggressive and large
enough to eat them.

[Colleen]

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Colleen" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> | The question is how long should I keep them separated?
>
> Indefinately. Damsels are notoriously territorial and aggressive, and
> are liable to harass to death any fish not aggressive and large
> enough to eat them.

All of the compatibility charts and the LFS said they would be ok together.

[Billy]

"Colleen" > wrote in message
...
|
| All of the compatibility charts and the LFS said they would be ok
together.
|
|

<shrug> I have no response to that, other than my own experience and
advice from other aquarists. I have one living in my sump,
(yellowtail) because he wouldn't stop harrassing the wrasses, gobies,
and tangs, the latter of which are 4-5 times his size. I even had a
Domino that would pester hermit crabs.

[h153]

As already stated, Damsels are extremely agressive. I bought 2, one was
a HUGE a55hole to the other. When the bullied was almost dead, I had
the bright idea of adding a third...you know...just to make the bully's
work that much harder.

Well...one died and the other was almost killed...looked like hell he
did. So I took the bully back to the store...the bullied, almost dead
damsel, is now living happily trying to act all bad ass to my
clowns...but he's tame enough (even though he tried to start a fight
with my bubble tipped anemone).

One trick I've read about but haven't tried is rearranging the tank.
Make it totally different so your damsel thinks it's in bizarro
land...maybe that will be enough to throw him off his bully kick and
give your clowns a chance to claim their own territories.

Good luck.

[h153]

As already stated, Damsels are extremely agressive. I bought 2, one was
a HUGE a55hole to the other. When the bullied was almost dead, I had
the bright idea of adding a third...you know...just to make the bully's
work that much harder.

Well...one died and the other was almost killed...looked like hell he
did. So I took the bully back to the store...the bullied, almost dead
damsel, is now living happily trying to act all bad ass to my
clowns...but he's tame enough (even though he tried to start a fight
with my bubble tipped anemone).

One trick I've read about but haven't tried is rearranging the tank.
Make it totally different so your damsel thinks it's in bizarro
land...maybe that will be enough to throw him off his bully kick and
give your clowns a chance to claim their own territories.

Good luck.

[SNC]

If Damsels were the size of sharks, The sharks would run in fear....


"Colleen" > wrote in message
...
> I added a couple of clown fish to my 55 gal tank. The tank only had three
> damsels and a clean up crew. The damsels were so aggressive with my new
> clowns that I took them out and put them in the 10 gal quarantine tank. I
> figure that after some time the clowns will get territorial and fight
back,
> while at the same time the damsels will lose their territory in the larger
> tank.
> The question is how long should I keep them separated? I don't want to
have
> to rearrange my tank because I got it just right, ascetically.
>
> Colleen
>
>

[Margolis]

"SNC" > wrote in message
...
> If Damsels were the size of sharks, The sharks would run in fear....
>
>


lol

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[Mike D.]

If your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle. Mike.
"SNC" > wrote in message
...
> If Damsels were the size of sharks, The sharks would run in fear....
>
>
> "Colleen" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I added a couple of clown fish to my 55 gal tank. The tank only had
three
> > damsels and a clean up crew. The damsels were so aggressive with my new
> > clowns that I took them out and put them in the 10 gal quarantine tank.
I
> > figure that after some time the clowns will get territorial and fight
> back,
> > while at the same time the damsels will lose their territory in the
larger
> > tank.
> > The question is how long should I keep them separated? I don't want to
> have
> > to rearrange my tank because I got it just right, ascetically.
> >
> > Colleen
> >
> >
>
>

[RJAG]

not much you can do, its a lucky dip. I had four Fijian damsels but they
tried to take over the whole tank even though they were last in. I was glad
to see the back of them.

OR

[Mike D.]

I had two percula clowns, and even though they tried to stand their ground,
the yellow damsel eventually had them staying at the top of the tank. I
had to return the clowns to the store ( i should have gotten rid of the
aggressor instead).
I just added two tiny butterfly fishes, a copperband and one with an
orange tail, and when the damsel gets nasty towards them, they quickly
flare their dorsal fin, and turn sideways, pointing their dorsal spines
right at the approaching damselfish. It seems to be working too. I have
never before seen any fish use it's spines actively like that. It is
fascinating to watch. Mike.
ps maybe you could put a venomous anemone in the tank, for the clownfish to
refuge in. It would serve the damselfish right .
"h153" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> As already stated, Damsels are extremely agressive. I bought 2, one was
> a HUGE a55hole to the other. When the bullied was almost dead, I had
> the bright idea of adding a third...you know...just to make the bully's
> work that much harder.
>
> Well...one died and the other was almost killed...looked like hell he
> did. So I took the bully back to the store...the bullied, almost dead
> damsel, is now living happily trying to act all bad ass to my
> clowns...but he's tame enough (even though he tried to start a fight
> with my bubble tipped anemone).
>
> One trick I've read about but haven't tried is rearranging the tank.
> Make it totally different so your damsel thinks it's in bizarro
> land...maybe that will be enough to throw him off his bully kick and
> give your clowns a chance to claim their own territories.
>
> Good luck.
>