Should I Attempt the Dreaded Blue Damsel?

[Anonymous]

I've been keeping marine fish for 15 years, and I agree whole heartedly with Dizzy. Besides, they are the easiest thing in the world to catch and remove if you know what you're doing! Just feed, wait until the little guy is near the top, turn out the light, and scoop. Simple, and works every time.
Regards
Jim

 

[Anonymous]

two of my favorites:

 

[ReefLion]

Vitz, what are those blue ones with the yellow underbelly? Are they mature yellow-tails or something else, and if different are they as non-agressive as yellow-tails?

I may as well ask the same question about the Vaiuli. Do they tend to be more peaceful?

Thanks!

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

the blue yellows i only know by the 'common name' 'fiji damsel'(from my days working at an lfs).they are not that bad, temperament wise, and seemed to harass only each other.
the vaiuli is like a gregory.

fwiw-most of the dams that are not dascyllus(dominoe,aruanus damsel) just aren't that bad-ime. in nature, those that defend territories, don't usually have a very big one-1to 2 sq.ft.,maybe, and that seems to shrink proportionately in tanks(though i wouldn't really recommend them for a 'community' of less than a 50gal.)
the starcki dam (i'm pretty sure of the name-my memory's hazy)is also really nice-abit more agressive than the vaiuli.

 

[Anonymous]

p.s.-most of the really nice dams are rarely seen in the hobby, but i think you can get some really cool i.d. books(damselfishes of the south seas, is the title, i think-by allen)

 

[ReefLion]

the vaiuli is like a gregory

Hi again Vitz, just wondering what you meant by the above since I'm not familiar with the gregory. Thanks again.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

though it seems that a few different species are called 'beau gregorys', here's a photo that more or less fits all of them, as far as color pattern goes-it's a pomacentrus species, as i think the vaiuli is(maybe the vaiuli is eupomacentrus?)
fwiw-the beau's undergo a dramatic color change when sexually active,but also quite pretty-mine continually spawned, and didn't bother anyone,but rather did all the 'action' behind the 'reef' face, on the back and side walls of the tank(see my posts in the captive breeders forum, if your interested)-anyway, here's the pic of the juvenile/non sexually active color type:

 

[ReefLion]

Sorry I guess I wasn't too clear. Are the gregory's (and hence the vaiuli's) relatively non-agressive?

I'm just trying to rate the personalities of the two fish you pictured compared to the yellow-tail in terms of agression. Thanks again.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

they are more agressive than the yellow tails(most dams are :wink: )

 

[dizzy]

[

quote="vitz"]the blue yellows i only know by the 'common name' 'fiji damsel'(from my days working at an lfs).[/

quote

Vitz the yellow and blue fish you pictured are called Pomacentrus coelestis in the Marine Atlas. I often hear this fish called the yellow bellied damsel. ( It could well be from Fiji.) I am attaching a picture of the fish I call Fiji damsel or Fiji devil. I believe the male has the yellow dorsal fin and the female does not. The Atlas has a picture of what I believe to be a female Chrysiptera taupo, but does not show a picture of the male. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. The Fiji devil is not an angel in the aquarium.

 

[Anonymous]

dizzy-
very nice pic! 8)
that was the fish i was referring to as the orange tailed variant of the blue devil-thanx for the info 8)
and agreed-it's about equal in temperament to the blue

 

[old ron]

Hello Reeflion, I have two yellowtails in my 40gal long reef, lots of live rock and hiding places. They have been in this tank for 1-1/2 yrs there is also a green mandarin that has this tank for 3 yrs (he is protected by a poisonous mucus coating on his body.) Bottom line, I never regreted having these yellowtails.
good reefin

 

[tazdevil]

Vitz, in Scott Michaels book, The Vauli (Princess) damsel is supposed to have a disposition similair to a Allen's damsel, that is, relatively calm (for a damsel). However, the other (the blue/yellow) are a regular terror. Not unlike the blue devil dams. (That's probably how they got their name!)