Azure damselfish

[sneeyatch]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+108&pcatid=108

Anyone keep these damsels? I see them from time to time at the LFS and I was considering adding a small school of them last. My main questions are will they maintain their color as they mature? I know all fish are different, but how are they on the aggressive side? What would be their adult size in captivity?

Thanks!

 

[Bax]

They are probably the most peacful damsel out there. That said, they are tough little guys and will hold their ground on their patch of your reef.

Schooling? Not likely. More like sparing, but it could be fun to watch in a 150 cube.

They will stay small and the blue of these fish is always commented upon by those "non-reefers" who look at my tank. It always seems as reefers will discount damsels, but I like the one I have, and if I had a very large display, I would certainly have a few of these in there. A very good choice IMO.

 

[sneeyatch]

Hey cool - thanks for the info! I like to keep damsels myself, but since they don't take anyone's crap, I always add them last. I was wondering about the schooling since I always see like 20 of them in the same tank in the LFS. I was thinking like 4 or 5 of them zooming around.

 

[el aguila]

I'm curious from someone with experience, How do these do with passive fish - Glass Cardinals, fire fish, flasher wrasses?

I like their coloration and have thought of adding them last thing to the tank, but damsels do have a reputation.

 

[RyanSweatt2004]

I have one with a school of 8 yellow tail blue damsels and they all get along fairly well. They pick on new fish of similar size for a couple days but not overly aggressive. They act just like a clownfish defending an anemone, If someone strays into the damsels space, it will become teritorial. I love them but If you plan to keep some, plan your other fish around the damsels, I keep mine with a trio of anthias and a trio of tangs with some clownfish. These are all fish that can all hold their own against the damsels. I wouldn't put them with any firefish though, way too jumpy for any aggression. Cardinals should be OK but its dependent on tank space and other environmental factors. What ever you do, add the damsels absolutely last and you should be fine.

 

[sneeyatch]

Yeah, I've always added damsels last and they're pretty much fine after that.

My stock list is:

1.) King Starry Blenny (already in the display)
2.) Royal Gramma (in QT)
3.) A single tang of some sort
4.) A single maroon clown at first, then I'll pair it up later on
5.) small school of Azure damsels.

I believe all of these fish would be able to hold their own against the damsels - especially since they'll all be established well before they're added.

 

[Monkeyfish]

I have one with a school of 8 yellow tail blue damsels

Do the damsels actually hang out together in a shoal or are they scattered around the tank with individual territories?

 

[dvmsn]

I have five and they are scattered around. I would place them as low on the aggression scale as fish can go. Mine just don't bother anything but each other. That being said, they are damsels and individuals can vary.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I had 3 in my 100g. In the mornings they would have a group meeting of some sort and then the pair would go to their territory and the odd man out would go to his territory at the other end of the tank. They never bothered any other fish including my Apogons, but I had an active tank.

 

[JamesJR]

I have one now and my experience has been in agreement with the previous statements. I would add that mine has only gotten more colorful as it has matured. I think their coloration is best shown off in full spectrum lighting. If the lighting is too heavy in the actinic region blue I think it tends to make them look too dark IMO. A local fish shop has one in a reef under 14k geismann halides, ati actinic and a red bulb (couldn't read the make on it) and it looks spectacular.

 

[falconut]

I've had a single Azure for over 3 years and he's been fine. His colors haven't changed over this time. He will defend his territory, but not anything bad. He tried to push new comers around, but usually they start pushing back and he leaves them alone.