Do damsels eat pods?

[Mihai]

Two quick questions:
1) do damsels eat pods? I'm thinking about putting 2-3 yellow tail damsels in my refugium, but I'd not want them chomping on the pods that are meant for the mandarins in the display.

2) Would a 20 gal long be too small for three yellow tail damsels?

Thanks,
M.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, they do eat pod. Damsels are not vegetarian by any mean.

Yes, it is too small, but that can be a good thing. These bastar*s may live together "peacefully" if the tank is too small. But I won't do it unless it is a temporary holding tank, like the LFS.

 

[Mihai]

Damsels are not vegetarian by any mean.

Nah, you got your species mixed up. I know for sure that they are vegetarian (say at least 60% to 90%) vegetarian. Their defend their teritory primarilly to take care of their "crop". I'm not sure what they eat the rest of their 10%-40%.

Yes, it is too small, but that can be a good thing. These bastar*s may live together "peacefully" if the tank is too small. But I won't do it unless it is a temporary holding tank, like the LFS.

I didn't mean it temporary - FOREVER... so you think that it's too small (there will be no other fish in there).

M.

 

[Anonymous]

Tagging along Mihai. I would love to know the answer to this one too. Been wondering if there was any fishes that could live in my display 'fuge without wrecking it's purpose.

 

[Anonymous]

they eat pods and i believe the bulk of their diet is meaty.


as for how many you could have in a 20g it will differ depending on what kind of damsel you have in there

 

[Anonymous]

they will definately lessen the pod population.

 

[danmhippo]

I don't know how and where the proof of them being 90% vegetarian? But all damsels that I know of takes mixed diet. Although they do maintain their crop (algae) pile, but they also consume every piece of meaty food they could catch in the wild.

Oh, back to the question, Yes, they do eat pods.

 

[DaGoldenChild]

i think 20 gal would be too small i had 3 yellow tail damsels in my 55 gal and they were very territorial they actually killed one of the 3

 

[Anonymous]

>...I don't know how and where the proof of them being 90% vegetarian?

Usually, you need to analysize the fish poop to verify the dietary behavior of the yellow tail damsel.

 

[Mihai]

I don't know how and where the proof of them being 90% vegetarian? But all damsels that I know of takes mixed diet. Although they do maintain their crop (algae) pile, but they also consume every piece of meaty food they could catch in the wild.

Oh, back to the question, Yes, they do eat pods.

I'm sure I didn't come up with this, must be Fenner's book or Michael Palleta's. Or an online article... However what you're saying doesn't contradict what I'm saying: it may be the case that they eat any meaty food they can find, but they may not find to much in the wild: they may have to eat 90% vegetables, although they may prefer otherwise ;-).

So they'll make a hole in my pod population. That's a bummer, as I was hoping to have something wiggling in the display refugium. Anything else nice, colorful that may live in a 20gal long refugium without putting a dent in the pod population? Oh, and I don't want it to be sesile .

M.

 

[Mihai]

i think 20 gal would be too small i had 3 yellow tail damsels in my 55 gal and they were very territorial they actually killed one of the 3

OK, maybe a pair then. A "loving" pair .
M.

 

[Anonymous]

the damsels i have owned (clownfish all but for one Blue devil) would greedily eat up whatever pod came by their way.

you could pull one out of the refugium by hand, throw it in the main tank and rarely ever did it survive to see the sand.

i know this is not unique behavior.

i rarely ever saw them graze as they were much more likely to disturb the sand in a pod hunting type of behavior.

 

[Mihai]

I'll look it up and I'll let you know what I find. Maybe it only refers to some damsels and I took the liberty of generalizing... Anyway, do you have any suggestions regarding "pod safe" fish that can be comfy in a 20g long?

M.

 

[Anonymous]

There are no true pod safe fish.
Herbivores will eat the algae that pods like to live and breed in leaving them vulnerable to other predators and omnivores will simply consume them, some faster than others.

Regards,
David mohr

 

[Anonymous]

I beg to differ. Lots of fish won't consume pods--small morays, dwarf lions, frogfish. Problem is will they fit in your fuge? I think a Pseudechidna brummeri (if it's covered) or an Antennarius maculatus would make a fine refugium fish, and both would do fine in a 20 gallon tank.

 

[Anonymous]

I beg to differ. Lots of fish won't consume pods--small morays, dwarf lions, frogfish. Problem is will they fit in your fuge? I think a Pseudechidna brummeri (if it's covered) or an Antennarius maculatus would make a fine refugium fish, and both would do fine in a 20 gallon tank.

Are morays, dwarf lions and frogfish omnivores?
Me thinks not. :wink:

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

But you said...

There are no true pod safe fish.

That's what I was disagreeing with.

There are also algaes that blennies won't eat and pods will reproduce in. And some blennies are strictly herbivorous.

 

[Mihai]

OK, for the herbivorous part, from Fenner's "The conscientious marine aquarist" book:

Some damsels are specialized planktivores or herbivores in the wild. In captivity, damsels accept all foods greedily

You can also check out one this site, there are tons of others:
http://ladywildlife.com/animal/damselfish.html

Matt, while both fishes you suggested are very nice and I'm sure very interesting in their own right, they are the sedentary type. I was hoping for something that will "wiggle" around, like a clownfish, chromis, wrasse, etc. The refugium is very close to the ceiling so you have to be able to see it from across the room... how about black mollies?

M.

 

[Anonymous]

Black mollies will eat pods. Mollies will eat anything that moves with gusto. And spice