Anyone kept a group of BlueYellowtail Damels?

[BonesCJ]

My wife and I love these little fish and are thinking of adding 3-5 to our 90 gallon aquarium when it is stocked. All of us have seen fish store tanks packed with these little guys but do they really coexist in a reef tank? All would be added at the same time.



*** on a side note

My 1000th post!!!

 

[SDguy]

In that size tank I suspect you will end up with a pair, and I'm not sure how tolerant they will be of any others.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

In that size tank I suspect you will end up with a pair

+1

I have a 180 and it still wasn't enough tank for a group, the big female killed all but the one she liked (tolerated?) and they spawned for years. After the male died in an accident I introduced another small juvie and I thought big bertha was going to tear him in half but she let him live and after a few months they finally mated and spawned and have been cranking out baby fish ever since. Despite the fact they live in large shoals in nature they will kill each other off in the confines of a tank and will really only form pairs IME.

 

[BonesCJ]

Thats what I wondered, guess we will go with just one for now then

 

[MrTuskfish]

IMO, the perfect number for most damsels is "0". Threads asking how to get these little monsters out of tanks are very common.

 

[randomfishguy85]

i have a pair in my 135 and to be honest they mind thier own business and are great little fish. They were one of the last added fish. they do chase my clown once and a whilebut i think its cause they are both damsels.

 

[dzhuo]

My wife and I love these little fish and are thinking of adding 3-5 to our 90 gallon aquarium when it is stocked.

By blue yellowtail damels if you mean Chrysiptera parasema, a group of 3 to 5 in a 90g should be fine as C. parasema is relatively peaceful and one of the least aggressive. If you are talking about Pomacentrus coelestis or Chrysiptera hemicyanea which are also commonly referred to as yellowtail damsels, I would suggest against it.

FYI. I keep a group of 9 in a 150g as first residents and it's been 2+ years and have yet to see any aggressions that leads to problem.

 

[sponger0]

imo, the perfect number for most damsels is "0". Threads asking how to get these little monsters out of tanks are very common.

+1,000,000,000

 

[j tavares]

WOW I have a total different approach I have a 180 w rocks and have twenty five years experience and for two years there are twelve yellowtails, twelve sapphire damsels and 8 blue devils and five black mollies who all seem to get along well with little active aggression towards each other and The tank mimics a reef where large populations of different damsels hover over coral heads. Two months ago I added two small dominoes and they also seem well at this point. I believe experience, patience with adding several damsels at a time limits agrsssion and everyone will have diferent experinces the fish are fed several small meals a day daily and live rock spread from top to bottom and side to side helps.

 

[IOWAFISH]

Years ago, I had eight in a 125 -- all added together. Constant bickering, but nothing serious. If I were to do it again, honestly, I probably wouldn't for the reasons others have said. Admittedly, however, a pair would be kinda cool.

 

[skidoctor]

I have 2 in a 40g. First additions- I cruelly had them in for my original cycle. They made it and are completely docile. I'd love to get them out, but they don't hurt anything. As opposed to their cousins- the zebra and domino damsels. Very aggressive and territorial. They were a complete PITA getting out. They now live in my sump with the macro and inverts helping on the clean up team.