The truth about yellowtail damsels...

[dizzy]

Mihai, the True Yellow tail Chrysiptera parasemaare pretty mellow compared to the others, these are hard to find and are more expensive than most other damsels. Most Yellow tails in the LFS are C. hemicyanea these are just as mean as the rest. There is a Chromis called the Blue Reef Chromis C. cyaneus that is a pretty blue and likes to be in groups of 3 or more.
Andy

I think Andy got the species reversed. C. hemicyanea is the one that goes by true yellow tail damsel and are harder to aquire than C. parasema. I have a pair of C. parasema in my 450. One is 18-years old the other about 15. They are only about 2" and still have the same color as the day I got them. They have never bothered tank mates, and that has included many species over the years.
Mitch

 

[Mihai]

what about a fiji blue damsel.

I have blue yellow belly damsels that are great.

It seems that the consensus is that on the average yellowtail are the nicest of the damsels, so while there is an occasional individual that is nice (pehaps in a larger tank than mine) I'll not take the chance with those... however, I didn't yet ruled the yellowtails, it seems that several people on this board had good experience with them. Only Matt's gramma is in the way at this point...

Thanks,
Mihai

 

[Mihai]

I think Andy got the species reversed. C. hemicyanea is the one that goes by true yellow tail damsel and are harder to aquire than C. parasema. I have a pair of C. parasema in my 450. One is 18-years old the other about 15. They are only about 2" and still have the same color as the day I got them. They have never bothered tank mates, and that has included many species over the years.
Mitch

C. parasema is clearly all over the place and cheap. I'm glad to hear about your experience, however my tank is nowhere close to 450galons.... anyway - did you ever had a royal gramma? (Gramma loretto).

M.

 

[elaw62]

just a response to the post that said yellowtail blue damsels have a 2 year lifespan. i've had one in a 75 gal reef for 4 years and it is still going strong. i do agree with the post about agression between them and a royal gramma, i have only 2 fish in mine, a gold band maroon clown and the damsel so i tried adding a beautiful gramma i found at the lfs, all was fine for about two days then we noticed damsel showing signs of agression and then on day 4 gramma has dissappeared and not seen since. probably going on two weeks now so i suspect crab food but i keep hoping he'll pop out from hiding in the rockwork.

 

[Mihai]

just a response to the post that said yellowtail blue damsels have a 2 year lifespan. i've had one in a 75 gal reef for 4 years and it is still going strong. i do agree with the post about agression between them and a royal gramma, i have only 2 fish in mine, a gold band maroon clown and the damsel so i tried adding a beautiful gramma i found at the lfs, all was fine for about two days then we noticed damsel showing signs of agression and then on day 4 gramma has dissappeared and not seen since. probably going on two weeks now so i suspect crab food but i keep hoping he'll pop out from hiding in the rockwork.

Well, regarding the two year lifespan I was not talking about the damsels, but rather about the neon gobbies.

Thanks for the info on the gramma. Regarding the gramma, I'm not sure how long ago this happened, but I urge you to check your overflow and your sump: I found my gramma in the overflow a week after he disappeared. He's now back in the display unharmed (perhaps brain-damaged buy not physically at least ).

All the best,
M.

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

I had a neon Gobie. They don't take well to stress and get sick easy, at least that's my experience. My yellow tank gave him no rest and ultimately caused his demise. You have a larger tank though so you probibly shouldn't have the same problem.

If they are the last ones added, shouldn't the damsels do ok though?

 

[DaGoldenChild]

yellow tails are pretty peaceful towards other inhabitants but they are very aggressive toward the same species on the other hand there is a damsel that is the same color blue as the yellow tail and alot more peaceful i dont know the exact name but at my LFS they are known as the blue devil

 

[Mihai]

I had a neon Gobie. They don't take well to stress and get sick easy, at least that's my experience. My yellow tank gave him no rest and ultimately caused his demise. You have a larger tank though so you probibly shouldn't have the same problem.

If they are the last ones added, shouldn't the damsels do ok though?

I don't know about the big tank: it's only a 90gal and my yellow tang is all over the place. It's actually giving a hard time to my mandarin, and even now, after a week it still bothers the mandarin. Not that the mandarin cares much, but it's still nasty looking.

I don't know about the damsels... I'm afraid to "try" as it will be probably very difficult to get them out if it doesn't work out.

M.

 

[Mihai]

on the other hand there is a damsel that is the same color blue as the yellow tail and alot more peaceful i dont know the exact name but at my LFS they are known as the blue devil

Kidding right? Blue devils. Does it ring any bells?

M.

 

[CC-Star]

I made a post awhile back in regards to this fish. I was hoping after reading others saying that their yellow-tail seemed to not bother their fish. But after introducing my clowns he would charge at them, and chase them all the around the tank not letting them rest for a minute. One good nip and back to the LFS for him. ANd yes he was NOT fun to catch to say the least (removing rock was not an experience I care to relive for a while). Now this was my experience, doesnt mean it will happen to everyone.

 

[Mihai]

Thanks, it seems that most had good luck, but some had horrible experiences with them. The comonality for all the problems seem to be the introduction of some fishes after the damsels. Thanks for sharing your experience.

M.

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

If you do decide to go with the damsels and it dousn't work out try this devise.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 004+113169

Put food in it for a while and they'll get used to going in.

 

[Mihai]

Thanks, I'll get it. I'll not get to the damsels for a while (if ever). If they make it into my tank they will be the last addition.

All the best,
M.