Fishy's Move(Domino Damsel):

Fishy has left the coral reef, and is testing the waters in a friend's 14g nano. Fishy was my very very first fish, and started out in my 24g marine nano. She did a great job of testing the waters, and of course, being sturdy as a rock, she thrived.

She got moved to the 30g reef tank when I suspected she had stressed my first true perc to the point where the perc died. She stayed in the reef tank for 3 months. The was her call to duty one more. You see, Domino Damsels are simple, and easy to breed. Supply vs. demand for these things puts them at $4 - $6. That's why it is a good idea to test your tank water out with them.... if they die... well, no one wants a fish to die. but if one isn't going to make it.... You got to hope it's not your $40 tang, right?

I had read that it's a bad idea to start out with a damsel, because they are impossible to get out. I remember getting her out of the 24g... that wasn't so bad... well... let me tell you a little story.

I'm a huge fan of, 'if it aint broke, dont fix it'. I have my reef laid out just the way i want it. fuzzy mushroom here, clam there... perfect! everything had plenty of light. it was easy to reach things that needed hand feeding... oh no! i told myself i wasnt going to talk in the past tense... oh well... the fact is that all those well throught out rock formations were perfect for fishy to hide in.

i spent half hour with my little net, but couldn't even get on the same side of the tank. i started to shift the small stuff on top, only to find that i couldn't reach her and that i would have to remove more. i ended up taking out every live rock i have. the tank had two fish, a net, and half of my tired arm in it. even still, fishy was evading my every atempt at her capture.

i ended up gettng her, but not before half my carpet was soaked, and i had smashed a couple of fingers trying to rearrange the tank.

word to the wise... dont let your damsels grow up to be established :)