Gsps & Yellow Tail Blue Damsels

[babyduke]

I believe the scientific name is chromis xanthurus (xanthura). I purchased 2 and added them to my tank with 2 GSPs. Neale, I didn't mean to disrespect and go against your word but they were much prettier than the green chromis you recommended so I couldn't resist. My GSPs have always been uncharacteristically mild mannered as they lived peacefully with Fig8's before. Except in the beginning showing a little curiosity, they are now totally indifferent toward the damsels. These damsels already found couple rocky spots for home where they stand guard. They are fiesty little fish yet show no aggression toward the puffers. I just wish they don't hide as often. Sometimes they are impossbile to locate.

 

[nmonks]

Did I recommend green chromis? Can't imagine why... IMHO they'd definitely be too gentle for life with puffers. I'd tend to go with Abudefduf spp. for pufferfish communities.

Anyway, glad these little fish are working for you. Good luck with them!

Neale

 

[babyduke]

Did I recommend green chromis? Can't imagine why... IMHO they'd definitely be too gentle for life with puffers. I'd tend to go with Abudefduf spp. for pufferfish communities.

Anyway, glad these little fish are working for you. Good luck with them!

Neale

Oh my fault! You NEVER recommended green chromis. In fact, you were AGAINST it. You suggested the following: Abudefduf saxatilis, neon damsels (Abudefduf oxyodon), and and domino damsels (Dascyllus trimaculatus).

Please accept my apology.

 

[Dave Legacy]

I've been tempted to try this out for a while. Sounds pretty positive that it's working out for you, so I might go for it. Thanks for writing about your experience!

 

[nmonks]

Looked up this little fish, Chromis xanthura. Gets to 15 cm; that should be fine with a _peaceful_ GSP. Be interesting to hear how things go. Keep us posted.

Cheers, Neale

 

[babyduke]

Looked up this little fish, Chromis xanthura. Gets to 15 cm; that should be fine with a _peaceful_ GSP. Be interesting to hear how things go. Keep us posted.

Cheers, Neale

This is chromis xanthura

Ones I bought are the blue ones with bright yellow tail: chromis xanthurus

 

[nmonks]

Ah, your fish is Chrysiptera parasema, Chromis flavicauda, or something like them. There are acutally quite a lot of "damsels with yellow tails".

There's no such thing as Chromis xanthurus, though that name would actually mean "yellow tailed" (=xanth + urus) so I can see why some hobbyists might have muddled up the name.

Cheers, Neale

 

[seffieuk]

i'm confused thought damsels were marine - could i keep some with Bing and Bong my two fig. 8 they look lovely?

 

[Fella]

i'm confused thought damsels were marine - could i keep some with Bing and Bong my two fig. 8 they look lovely?

The figure 8's prefer brackish less than or around 1.005, damsels wouldn't be able to tolerate a specific gravity that low, so unfortunately you would be unable to keep figure 8's with damsels. It works with GSP's as they can tolerate a higher salinity than F8's.

 

[nmonks]

Most damselfish (including all the commonly traded species) need marine or near marine conditions; SG 1.018 or more. This makes them suitable for high-end brackish tanks (SG 1.018, about 80% normal seawater salinity) where things like monos and scats are being kept. In fact, most marine fish are fine at SG 1.018.

There are a very few truly brackish water damsels; of these the species I know about are Stegastes otophorus, Pomacentrus taeniometopon, and Neopomacentrus taeniurus in particular. Pomacentrus taeniometopon and Neopomacentrus taeniurus will even tolerate freshwater conditions for extended periods.

None are traded much, but if you could find them, yes, they'd be suitable for life with two figure-8 puffers. However, watch for aggression because all three of these damsels are fairly pugnacious animals.

Cheers, Neale

i'm confused thought damsels were marine - could i keep some with Bing and Bong my two fig. 8 they look lovely?

 

[seffieuk]

Cheers Neale, am away to look them up

Seffie

 

[babyduke]

I found one of my damsels dead. There was absolutely no sign of it being attacked. I immediately checked the water for salinity, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia. Everything was great and the other damsel's still doing great and is quite an eating machine. Dead one had been acting a bit too shy, hiding most of the time. Since the water quality is good and the other damsel is doing well, is it quite possible that the fish store dude gave me a sick fish?

 

[nmonks]

Damsels are usually quite hardy, but as with any fish you can get the odd one that was either captured clumsily (e.g., with cyanide) or damaged in transit or simply hasn't adjusted. I'm afraid that's one of the risks with buying wild-caught fish. You can also mess up acclimating a marine fish to your home aquarium; coral reef fish *generally* lack the ability to adapt to rapid water chemistry changes that some other marine fishes, such as estuarine or tidepool fishes, possess.

Do keep an eye on water chemistry (the SG should be 1.018 or more) and take extra care that the water is well oxygenated and the hardness/pH are nice and high.

Cheers, Neale

 

[babyduke]

Just update, I've housed these 3 blue yellow tailed damsels together with 2 GSP's and they are all doing great.

No tensions whatsoever as damsels & GSPS usually stay on the opposite ends minding their own biz except when feeding. Salinity is about 1.02 and I've replaced all the freshwater decorations to fake live rock and fake corals and barnacles and they especially damsels seem to love it.

BTW, would these damsels get along with clownfish?

 

[babyduke]

Just to update, they are all doing great. Damsels have created caves underneath the rocks and fake corals and each has its own home where they become pretty aggressive if one comes near. The biggest damsel that acts the strongest rules the entire tank and the poor GSPs are pretty much situated in one corner all the time. I wonder if they are stressed from this tension. Regardless, they are all eating well. My GSPs are just too gentle and almost cowardy toward these little damsels which I find it strange.