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Damsel? ID…?
9/26/07
Hi All,
<Hi Reuben, Mich here.>
It's been awhile- my FOWLR is great
<Good to hear!>
(though my miniatus and trigger did have to be separated for now; the grouper
outgrew the others quickly and tried to have a Huma snack).
<Yikes!>
I started a reef system a couple years later and cycled it with a few a damsels
who still reside there.
<For future reference is best to do fishless cycling.>
My question is related to one of these fish- I purchased it because it was mixed
in with the damsels at my LFS
and I had never seen one before (or again). I have been unable to identify or
even find another photo of this fish on your site or on the Internet in general,
but then I'm not sure if I'm even looking at a damsel.
<Looks like a member of the Pomacentridae family to me.>
It doesn't really seem 'damsel-like' to me in terms of behaviour- it doesn't
really have a specific territory, it just swims around in the open all the time,
like my Chromis. It's not aggressive at all.
<May or may not be characteristic of the species.>
It also has a sort of elongated body compared to other damsels I have seen and
it is very small, only about an inch though I have had it for three or for
years. I finally got a digital camera and was hoping you could put my curiosity
to rest. I assume it is a damsel, but I can't stand not knowing for sure. I like
to know the Latin name for everything under my care (my yard is labeled, my
herps are labeled, my birds- I may tattoo my wife next,
<Look out!>
despite my being under HER care).
<Ahhh, an honest man.>
Can you tell me what I have?
<Is difficult to determine from just one pic. I can't tell from the photo if the
background color of this fish is blue or black. Perhaps this is a member of the
genus Pomacentrus, there are some 241 species in this genus alone and over 321
species in this family. I would recommend spending some time on www.fishbase.org
http://www.fishbase.org/NomenClature/ScientificNameSearchList.php?crit1_fieldname=
SYNONYMS.SynGenus&crit1_fieldtype= CHAR&crit1_operator=EQUAL&crit1_value=pomacentrus&crit2_fieldname
=SYNONYMS.SynSpecies&crit2_fieldtype
=CHAR&crit2_operator=contains&crit2_value=&group=summary&backstep=-2
>
Thanks for making your vast knowledge available!
<Wish I could be more help here.>
Reuben
<Mich>
p.s. Sorry if the pic is large, I'm not sure how to resize them yet.
<Is fine. We recently upgraded our web mail system and can handle bigger pic
without it crashing our server like it used to.>
Re: damsel? ID – 09/29/07
Mich,
<Reuben>
Thanks!
<Welcome!>
I'll sit down and browse all the Pomacentrus to see if I can find a
match.
<Sorry is a lot there, sometimes I get lucky and find a quick match but
didn't this time and I have other commitments here. But the tools are
there, you just have to find the time to sit down and plug away at them.
Good luck!
Mich>
Reuben |
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Pomacentrus auriventris Addition 2/11/07
Hey guys
<Hello.>
-- First off, props for all you do for the hobby.
<Thanks.>
Here's my stocking question: I've got a 45g cube (24"x20"x22") (another 10g in a
15g sump), solid skimmer (Reef Octopus NW-110). I've got around 50lbs of rock
-- even though it's porous, MI stuff, I still need to add a few pieces for
caves. I've got a 3" starry blenny and a 2.5" maroon clown (blenny first, clown
4 weeks later -- been in together for about 13 weeks). I'm strongly considering
adding a trio of Pomacentrus auriventris to the tank, as my final inhabitants,
fish-wise. Thoughts on this?
<In this size tank could work...may quarrel with he maroon as he/she ages
though...is a risk but I would say with this species odds are in your favor.>
Alternatively, I add one of the tougher Dottybacks, but I'd rather have a fish
that's out in the open all the time (the blenny is awesome, but hides a
lot). Thanks for your
advice!
<Anytime.>
~Tim
<Adam J.>
Sexing Pomacentrus coelestis
I have searched high and low on the net. How can I differentiate male
from female of this sp. ? Any and help is more than appreciated. Thank you for
your time.
Nicholas O'Connor
<Most Pomacentrids can't be sexed externally... including this one. This genus
lives in social groups of a few individuals... Bob Fenner>
Allen's Damselfish/Availability 2/18/06
Hi Bob ...<James today.>
Where can I get a few Pomacentrus alleni (Allen's damselfish)?
they don't seem to available here in Lemont Il. <Drs Foster & Smith have them.
Using the Google tool will produce plenty of sources. James (Salty Dog)>
thanks, <Welcome>
David
Damsel Pestering Pygmy Angel 11/01/05
Hey Bob or Steve whoever gets this.
<Ali here...>
I have a 75 reef and for a while there was only a damsel in the tank (my parents took care of the tank this summer for me and
that's all that was left) I just recently added a flameback to the tank and the damsel is going crazy. He is attacking it and showing a lot of aggression.
<Typical behavior for a damsel who has had a tank all to himself for a year.>
I have the lights turned off now and there is over 100 pounds of rock in the tank. I
don't know what else to do if this doesn't stop I think the pygmy will die. I
can't trap out the damsel there is too much rock. Would adding another fish calm the damsel down so its just not the two of them? thanks any help will be great. Matt
<Matt, you are in a dilemma here. More than likely, the damsel will not stop showing constant aggression towards the angel. Both fish more than likely have very similar body shape/size and diet. A damsel that has 'owned' and dominated the aquarium all by himself can be especially terrorizing towards other small fish.
Generally speaking, the flameback pygmy angels are an assertive fish that can hold their own with many other species of fish. However a newly added, un-QT'd fish placed within the grasps of a well-established, dominant damsel isn't really the best practice. Please consider removing some rockwork and gently trying to trap or catch either fish. I would not add anymore fish in the aquarium as the next fish you add will most likely suffer the same unnecessary fate as the angel. Good luck. - Ali>
Damsel Caught! 11/04/05 (Wha.. huh? It's only the 3rd!)
11/3/05
Thanks for the quick reply Ali I did forget to mention the flameback was held in a QT tank for 2 weeks before I put him in the display tank. I took almost all of the rock and coral out of the tank and captured the damsel and put him in the back sump
of the tank (Sea Clear System II).
<You are the man Matt! Great to see you taking action and taking your angel out of harms way. Kudos my friend.>
I feel quite bad the fish is being held back there, in your opinion how soon can I release the damsel back into the display tank? It is a Princess damsel
(Pomacentrus vaiuli) which I have personally never seen for sale here on the east coast. It was a gift from a friend I met at Marine Ornamental's 04 in Honolulu so I really want to keep this fish but I trust your opinion if you feel he will just cause problems if he is put back into the display.
<He'll be okay in the back of the System II sump for several days, but do make it a point to find him a good home as soon as possible. These particular damsels do not need a huge amount of room therefore, one option you can consider is setting up a 15 gallon aquarium/refugium plumbed into your existing system to house the damsel along with some
live sand, plants, and clusters of live rock. This way you can enjoy your fish while
simultaneously reaping the benefits of a refugium. If this is not an option, setting up a small 10 or 15 gallon kitchen tank, with some
live rock, sand and hang-on power filter will work just fine for this little guy. Otherwise, start placing ads at your local marine club or internet fish forums stating you are seeking a good home for the fish.>
By the way pictures of my 1500 reef are on the way. Thanks again you guys take care.
<Looking forward to them Matt. Good luck! - Ali> Re: Australian damsel
G'Day Crew,
I live on the central east coast of Australia. I have a license for private
aquarium collecting. Yesterday I captured an Australian Damsel (Pomacentrus
australis). I have identified the fish using an excellent book, Coastal Fishes
Of South Eastern Australia by Rudie h. Kuiter.
<Rudie has many good books out. A few more re Australian fishes>
I have been searching to find more info about this fish, e.g. behaviour, feeding
. This may be a long-shot but i thought I'd try you guys. Have you heard of this
fish &/or got any info on it?
<No... all we have on the genus is here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pomacentrus.htm
You might try fishbase.org>
Also do you know any good Australian internet sites like yours?
Thanks Stephen.
<Not yet. Bob Fenner>
Stocking list + damsel id
Hi. As always Muchos gracias for all of the help. You (collectively)
continue to amaze me... I'm sure this is a chore at times, but what
satisfaction you must get.
<You are so right>
The fact that most of your responses not only
help the person who asked, but so many others, and then over and over
again
as people read the site. Super cool.
<By design... thank goodness for the Net!>
Two questions.
1. I need some help with a damsel id. I've attached two pics. It was sold
as a "Scott's Damsel" by a very good store, who can't figure out
the
scientific name ;-) I've only found one reference to that name anywhere,
from a site for an Indonesian collector which lists it as Chrysiptera
medanensis. I'm guessing some kind of Chrysiptera or Pomacentrus (maybe
caeruleus, but I don't think so). I have three and they are the most
submissive in the tank.
<It is P. caeruleus almost assuredly. Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pomacentrus.htm
or source it on fishbase.org>
2. I currently have the following fish in a 110g 60x24x18 tank with 150lbs
LR and a 30g sump. Tank houses SPS, clams, typical assortment of small
inverts.
(1) Kole tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
(1) Hippo tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
(4) Orange lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
(3) Scott's damsel?
(1) Diadem Dottyback (Pseudochromis diadema)
This is about as full as I would like, but am considering two final
additions, and would like your advice. All of the current tankmates are
getting along well. None have acted aggressively toward others.
All of the Anthias are female, and I would like to add a male. The females
have lived here for a month. Nobody seems to have selected herself as the
leader. Would the introduction of a male at this point be recommended?
<Should not be trouble...>
I would also like to add one six-line wrasse to help the clams. I am
concerned that the wrasse and the Dottyback might not get along.
<Might not... but given sufficient rock cover... I give you good
odds>
The LR is
organized such that there are many hiding places and lots of swimming
space.
The Dottyback pretty much just guards it spot with an occasional foray
into
the other end of the tank, but doesn't bother anyone.
You advice is appreciated (more than you'll ever know).
Regards,
Michael
<Be chatting, Bob Fenner> |
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Help identify a damsel
I was wondering if you could help id this damsel for me.......it was sold to
me as a lemon damsel.......it looks a lot like a lemon damsel except it has a
small black spot on its dorsal fin......and sort of resembles a sulphur
damsel...Thanx for any help
<Yowsa, that's a small (3k) image... this does look like either of the stated Pomacentrus spp. Please go to the
WetWebMedia.Com homepage and put in the term Lemon Damsel... go to the genus Pomacentrus page, and try to compare the juvenile you have with the images there. Bob Fenner>
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Re: help identify a damsel
it looks a lot like a "honey Chromis" Pomacentrus melas it doesn't really matter what species it is I was just curious
<Real, good. Bob Fenner> |
Schooling fish?
Mr. Fenner:
I have a 180 gallon reef tank with room for several more 2 inch fish. Ever
since seeing a large freshwater tank with a school of Neon Tetras, I have
wanted to do something similar in my tank.
<Many possibilities>
Unfortunately the only schooling fish that I can ever find are the Blue and
Green Chromis. Both fish are too plain for my taste. I keep looking for a
more colorful schooling fish.
<Perhaps the Anthiinae... oh, I see you mention them below>
Occasionally a LFS will recommend one of the Anthias for schooling fish.
Unfortunately they get big enough that I don't feel my tank can support a
school of 5 (in addition to what I already have).
<Read over our site: www.WetWebMedia.com re this subfamily of basses... many choices....>
I recently saw some Pomacentrus alleni at my local LFS. The proprietor said
that they were the same "family" as Chromis, and would _probably_ exhibit
schooling behavior (and would _probably_ be relatively peaceful).
<Mmm, not really... Chromis are more a more likely general schooling group (the species you mention)... not Allen's
Pomacentrus...>
Can you give me some insight into the behavior of Pomacentrus alleni?
<See the genus coverage on the WWM site>
Do you have other recommendations for small, brightly colored schooling
fish?
<Many... but this is not the way you should pick/choose amongst...>
Thank you for your time.
Ken Matson
<Let us "journey together" (the meaning of itinerary). Bob Fenner>
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