Azure Damsels

[insaneDynamix]

Ive a 120 tall (48x24x24) with a 60 gal sump. about 140 lbs of liverock. Current inhabitants are
1 yellow tang
1 blue hippo
1 longnose hawk
2 ocellaris clowns
1 diamond watchman goby
1 carpenter's wrasse
1 azure damsel

The azure is the least aggressive of them all and is continually bullied by the wrasse and clown.
Everywhere i Read it says that Azures are the least aggressive of all damsels. I pretty much love the azure.
Now I have some stocking space I think and was looking for a group of fish I could keep together. I initially thought of Chromis but then there are tons of reports of em killing each 0ther off.
Then I thought of anthias ... But I didnt wanna feed so often ...
Now I read a few reports on people having a group of azures in their tanks with no issues.
Please do advise with your personal experiences ... and how many more azures can I put in.

Bonus question - :lmao: I loved the look of the mimic half black tang. And was wondering If i could add one to the setup. I think I prolly know the answer is no ... But just thought id ask anyway

 

[o2manyfish]

I have an assortment of damsels in my tanks and they don't really group that often.

I have the blue jeweled damsels and they at night gather up to sleep inside a couple of colonies.

But when the lights are on most of the damsels have their own areas they hang out in.

If you were going to add to your existing single I would recommend adding more than one. I have found that adding groups do better in odd numbers.

Dave B

 

[insaneDynamix]

so would you recommend them azures in a group with the existing fish?

 

[Monkeyfish]

It is highlly unlikely that the azures will form a shoal. Most likely, they'll all get seperate territories.

 

[insaneDynamix]

It is highlly unlikely that the azures will form a shoal. Most likely, they'll all get seperate territories.

Yeah ... I know but ill be happy if they dont kill each other off ..

So far these seem like good candidates ..

Any other ... I dont wannaa go with cardinals

 

[shaka]

I currently have 6 Azures in a 50 gallon quarantine tank. They are just about to be put in my 140 gallon display tank. They form a loose shoal in the open water column of QT ( maybe they are more planktivorous and therefore not overly aggressive because of lack of definite territories ). They do "dive" at each other occasionally but no overt aggression towards each other.

I thought, like you, of having a group of Chromis, but they seem to kill each other off.

So far I've had the Azure damsels for about 3 months . . . no losses.

 

[insaneDynamix]

That's really nice ... they seem to be the most mild mannered unlike most ... damsels

Would 5 work for my set up ... how should I acclimate em withnthe existing own

Someone please tell me about the half black mimic

 

[insaneDynamix]

Anymore ideas?

 

[Aquarimate]

Anymore ideas?

I have 6 in my 225G and they do not bother each other at all. They really don't care about any other fish in my tank but as others mentioned they do not hang out with each other. They all scatter around the tank.

 

[DustyReefer]

Someone please tell me about the half black mimic

IMO with two tangs already in the 120 your already maxed out, so I wouldn't get a mimic as well.

 

[Jasanden]

Quick question. What's the difference between Azures and Kupang damsels?

 

[Sean626]

I would avoid all damsels but that's just me. They tend to be more timid and less aggressive during their juvenile days, but as they get older they become more aggressive.

 

[insaneDynamix]

Yea .. I actually thought I would never add adamsel to my tank .... but a friend recommended this one and the one I have is the wimp of the tank and he's quite big :fun5:

 

[insaneDynamix]

IMO with two tangs already in the 120 your already maxed out, so I wouldn't get a mimic as well.

Thanks I thought so too ... maybe I'll put him in a diff set up

 

[insaneDynamix]

I have 6 in my 225G and they do not bother each other at all. They really don't care about any other fish in my tank but as others mentioned they do not hang out with each other. They all scatter around the tank.

That's nice ... 5 in a 120 will work?

I have one friend who told me he tried it with the damsels picking each other off his was a 60 gal

 

[Monkeyfish]

Quick question. What's the difference between Azures and Kupang damsels?

A few consonants and a vowel. Same fish, different common names.

I have one friend who told me he tried it with the damsels picking each other off his was a 60 gal

Yellow tails and Azure/Kupang are fairly pasive, but that was pushing it for a tank that size. For the 120 I think 3 is your best bet. Other species of damsels (other than yellow-tails) are pretty aggressive and territorial. They do NOT play nice with others.

At one time, I had two damsels (blue and a three stripe) in a 180. They divided the tank in half and guarded their territories. They didn't bother their tank-mates who were all four times their size (trigger, angel, tang, etc.).