Fmxmatt Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Heyas My Starki Damsel seems to find pleasure in bullying my Fire Goby on the odd occasion. The only other fish he'll pick on is my Hippo Tang (But thats too stupid to realise whats going on) My tank is 350 litres with plenty of hiding spots (the goby has made himself a burrow) and the goby is often out and about so it doesn't seem stressed, but should I look at perhaps rehoming my damsel? The Goby has only been in since Saturday, is it too much to hope that the bullying may stop eventually? It only happens very rarely but I'm just a wee bit worried that the damsel may start fin nipping. Strangely enough, my clowns tend to get involved if there is ever any violence. 1 will go and get the damsels attention, and the other will swim between the goby and damsel. Has anyone ever seen this type of behaviour before? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 thats damsels for you... which is why most people don't like keeping damesels, or if they do they add them last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Starki Damsel is very aggressive, should not be with fire gobies or small fish, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted October 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Hmmm ur the only one to mention that about starkis. Everywhere else i've read and other people i've spoken to have said their starki's are passive compared to most damsels, and I agree with mine. Its wierd because i've just spent 30 mins watching the tank and the goby and starki were swimming around togther hunting for food like they were best mates (much like how the clowns behave) I'll try to get a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Hmmm ur the only one to mention that about starkis. Everywhere else i've read and other people i've spoken to have said their starki's are passive compared to most damsels, and I agree with mine. info As with most Damsels, the Starkii Damsel grows from a docile juvenile into an aggressive adult. As a result, Damsels should not be kept with small docile tank-mates, rather with other aggressive community fishes. Numerous observations would support the above . Extraordinary nice fish but a pain . Especially in small tanks with smaller fish. Wanted to add one to my tank but after my experience with them i prefer not too add one, Some individuals might not be as aggressive but in general they are aggressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Since the goby is new it will be a potential object of aggression and this may reduce, however if it doesn't have room to get far enough away from the damsel the bullying may continue indefinately, damsels are like that. Fire gobies are very passive and if they get bullied too much they just go and hide all the time, and may eventually die. If things seem to be going this way, and you prefer the goby, you may have to pull the damsel. I've had some very pretty damsels, but I've finally given up on them due to the problems they cause, and over the years i've lost quite a few fish to damsel bullying. The thing with the clowns, clowns and damsels do tend to square off aqainst each other if they are too close. I doubt the clowns are protecting the goby, but more likely when the damsel moves aggressively when attacking the goby, this may trigger a response from the clowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted October 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Hmm will definatly keep an eye on it then because the goby is the preference. Anyone in CHC want a starki damsel? (if/when I can catch it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 not me my tank is to small for damsel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 it'd be bloody nicein a nano tank, their colours are kickass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted October 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Thats why I dont really want to get rid of it, he's such a nice colour. The Goby doesn't seem too worried, he's not hiding so things might be coming right. I spoke to the damsel this morning though, told him if I found any nipped fins on any of my fish, he'd be in trouble. I also told him he's lucky I dont have a sump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 lol if i wasnt getting a few fish for my tabk i would get him but i dont think he would like a clown goby and sixline in a smallish tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted October 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Depends how you look at it He would like it because he could bully them But he would not like them so he would bully them He's earning himself the name Wooly Bully, even though he's not wooly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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