This dam damsel

[piglet007]

I just got two percula clown fish. I bought "defected" ones, they don't have the stripes completely around them. I put them in the tank and immediately that damsel came over to them all fluffed up and tried to bite them. He is torturing them as we speak and I know I have to get him out of there. I really didnt' want to do that because I feel bad, but I feel worse for the two he is harrassing. I was wondering though, if it's possible for them to get along or should I just not risk it. I thought about taking him out of the tank for a little bit, then putting him back in so maybe he wouldn't pick on them but I can't catch him. I put the green net in there and everytime he goes after the clows I go in after him. I figured maybe he would catch on to that but he isn't. Seeing him in "attack" mode is rather amusing but I don't want him to be doing that obviously. So should I just give up and get rid of him. Is there anyway he'd live in a bowl of saltwater with maybe a small piece of live rock?

Also, are all the fish going to do this. I wanted to add fish slowly but I dont' want this aggression every time I put a new fish in. FWIW, he isn't bothering anything else in the tank.

[OrionGirl]

Damsels are very aggressive and territorial--some more than others. IME, if it starts attacking straight off like that, it's going to continue, and it will treat any newcomer the same way. Completely re-arranging to tank and then re-introducing the fish will sometimes help, but not in all cases.

JMO, but if you don't want it, see if the LFS will take it back. If not, try finding it a home. Putting it in subpar conditions (a bowl) is a poor option. You could certainly try your hand at a nano-setup, but all SW tanks need some water movement, heat, etc.

[piglet007]

That's what I figured. I think we are just taking him back to the store tonight. it was right off the bat too, as soon as the first one got put in. Poor larry.

[Max]

Damsels and clowns are pretty closely related and don't get on well at all. I'd take it back to the lfs it won't cause you anything but trouble. You think you hate it now wait until it gets bigger! Damnsels are the biggest one of the biggest p.i.t.a. that you can have in your tank IMO,"unless you just want damsels only of course,". They don't play well with other and they'll pick at your inverts. I'd get rid of it if I could catch it
As to the other fish and problems well maybe. It depends on what size you tank is and what fish you're talking about. If you were for instance to add a 6 line wrasse you clowns would be as indifferent as the man in the moon. On the other hand if you were to add a skunk clown they'd be forced to remove the interloper asap one way or another.
hth
chris

[Gealcath]

Schools of Damsels in the wild have been known to succesfully fight off sharks, so that tells you how aggressive they are.

[Oliver]

yea, I agree with previus statements of their agression, they are little monsters. One really good way to get fish out of the aquarium is too use two nets. I have previusly spent up to 30 minutes trying to get a freeking algea eater out of fresh water tanks, and when I was getting my ocellaris out two days ago, it took me 2 minutes.

[piglet007]

Ok, thanks. We didn't get him back to the store last night, got tied up. The two clowns are now swimming all over the tank, yesterday he wouldn't let them out of the corner. I'm going to capture useing the two nets this afternoon and send him packing.

[Raki]

Take a plastic water bottle cut off the top and invert in back inside the bottle tape it in position. put some food in the bottle and place it in the tank on it's side and watch the damsel go in for the food.Grab the bottle and get it out of the tank. You usually can only do this once to a damsel as they will remember.

[Oliver]

great idea with the plastic bottle, that method is also supposedly good for catching crabs.

[stoneage]

Not all Damsels are monsters over the years I have had three tanks and each tank had a Blue Yellow Tailed Damsel. These fish are remarkably laid back for Damsels and apart from an occassional dart at the Bananna Wrasse my current specimen never bothers any of the fish or inverts.

[Raki]

I have 4 Blue ,Yellow tail damsels and they are the only fish in my tank that attack my hand when I'm cleaning or re-arranging the rubble pile. I have 4 Three Stripe damsels and a Neon Velvet that's almost full grown and those guys leave me alone and hide when my hand is in the tank. The Neon Velvet tried to give my Picasso Trigger trouble when I first got it but the Trigger although smaller than the Velvet just looked at it like "your kidding right , I've got teeth go ahead just try"