6 year bullies, Amblyglyphidodon aureus ! Need to trap some fish - 1/22/07 Hello everyone!! <Hi Pam, Brenda here> I have learned so much from you guys.  Thank you for such a wonderful site!! <You are welcome and thank you for the positive feedback!> I hope you can now help me with the following problem. It concerns this bully, Amblyglyphidodon aureus! I've had two of them for about six years!  They bullied a beautiful little pair of tangs three years ago, and chewed them to the point of no return.  Through the years, I haven't been able to keep any other fish in my 75gal reef tank.   This week however, I decided to give it another try, and purchased six Bicolor Pseudochromis.  So far, the bullies have chewed the fins on two of them so badly; I fear they will not survive.   <Ouch!!> Along with the Chromis, I bought six very small Tomato Clownfish - Tank-Bred.   <Yikes!  Twelve fish all at once?  Too many!  Also that is too many clownfish for your tank.  I suggest no more than two clownfish together.  You will likely see aggression as they mature.> Again, I was hoping for power in numbers, but that doesn't seem to be the case here, with bullies like the Amblyglyphidodon aureus. They are being harassed to no end! Now, for my question:  Is there any such thing as a "fish trap"? <Yes> Yeah, funny question, but try catching these! As soon as they see the net, they duck for cover with the speed of lightening!  I must get rid of these pests! <Try searching the internet for fish traps there have been many who have made their own.   They are also available at www.marinedepot.com, and possibly at your LFS.  I suggest separating as many as you can from these damsels, ASAP.  I wouldn't add more than two fish at a time to your system, and this is after they have been quarantined for 30 days.  Fourteen fish for your system is too many in my opinion.> I don't have a refugium set up at the moment (that's another problem!) however I do own a new one. <A refugium would be a nice place to house some fish until you can find someone to take them.> Thank you for all your help!! Pam <Your welcome and good luck!   Brenda>

Avoiding A Damsel In Distress Dear Mr. Fenner, <Scott F. here this morning!> >Found a number of your articles on the Wet Web Media website when doing a web search for marine fish info and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Was very impressed by your knowledge and obvious love of these fascinating and wonderful creatures. <They are all priceless treasures!> We have a 38 gallon, fish-only aquarium with a large Maroon Clownfish, Purple Pseudochromid and a Yellow-tailed Blue Damsel.  We're looking to add another fish, and are quite taken with the Amblyglyphidodon Damselfishes, particularly Amblyglyphidodon aureus (Golden Damselfish). <They have a classic damsel shape and some neat behaviors-understandable that you like 'em!> Your WWM article notes that this is an easy-going fish, but I know that having two or more fish from the same family in a small community tank is generally not a great idea (they fight).  Would adding a Golden Damselfish to our tank be advisable? <If for no other reason than their ultimate potential size (5 inches or more), I'd pass on them for your sized system. Perhaps in a much larger tank, you could try a small group of them.> Thanks much for any assistance you can provide. --Kevin M. <And thank you for stopping by! Keep reading and studying!>