Damsel Dominant Tank Owners Thread

[fishfreak2009]

I actually removed the groupers, the tuskfish, and the lunare wrasse from my 180 gallon so the damsels that were in smaller tanks around the basement just got a royal upgrade. There is a large ocellate damsel, a Talbot's damsel, an Allen's damsel, and 5 green chromis. They haven't bothered anyone and nobody is bothering them. They get along fine with the other fish that got upgraded with them, a nox angel, a neon dottyback, a labouts fairy wrasse, a pink head fairy wrasse, a pj cardinal, a pair of maroon clowns, and some anthias. And of course no problems with the tangs, bird wrasse, and large angels that were already established.

 

[Navyblue]

I have a 120G with somewhat minimalist rockscape with:

- Yellow tail damsel (Chrysiptera parasema)
- Azure damsel (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
- Blue sapphire damsel (Chrysiptera springeri)
- Lemon "chromis" (Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis)

I used to have Talbot's damsel (Chrysiptera talboti) but it jumped, and a tomato clown which of course is technically damsel too. Only other tank mate is a powder blue tang and a banded serpent star.

I think the key is compatibility, not unlike other fishes. Some fishes are skittish and will starve to death when there are aggressive fish around. Where as others don't really mind too much. In my case, every single fish can be the bully when the circumstances are right. I would like to add 1 or 2 more small fishes but I am lazy with the quarantining and all that.

There are charging and darting and occasional torn fins, but nothing murderous. The yellow tail is the meanest of the bunch, and not afraid taking on the tomato clownfish which is 4 times the size, and my algae scrapper too. The azure seems like its lieutanant, in the early stages it even looked like they were a pair. The blue sapphire is the smallest but it is the lemon (which is the biggest) that is at the bottom of the hierrachy. The Talbot was somewhere between them before it jumped.

There are also some species which IMO should be avoided, like the 4 stripes damsel (Dascylus melanurus) I used to have, and I suspect, other Dascylus as well. My personal opinion is those under the "semi aggressive" category can be made to get along with the right tank mates, whereas those considered plain "aggreesive" you should be prepared to house them solitarily eventually.

 

[tsav]

Our cat, Cali, loves to watch the damsels swim around. I'm constantly having to clean off her nose prints from the glass.

 

[rscotti]

Bump

 

[SoloChromis]

I love damsels, especially those hailing from Chrysiptera. Too many people like to run around yelling about the boogeyman damsel, almost like a deranged homeless man sporting a sign warning of the end of the world. Granted there are plenty of damsels that are unsuitable for the peaceful community setting (Dascyllus, Paraglyphidodon, Microspathodon, Neoglyphidodon etc.), however there are also many species that are entirely worth considering, some species I typically recommend would be -

* Azure
* Yellowtail
* Tuxedo
* Springer's
* Starck's
* Rolland's
* Talbot's
* Tracey's
* Allen's
* Regal
* Lemon/Staghorn
* Blue & Gold
* Annulata
* Bleeker's

... etc.

I've got a male (orangetail) blue damsel as the sole fish in my 20g mantis tank and he's gorgeous. Considering all of what I said, I may seem a bit hypocritical in the fact that I've set a trap for the Springer's damsel in my 60g :lolspin: I believe he'd be a fine addition to a typical community tank (tangs, clowns, anthias, chromis etc.), but my 60g is a bit of a pansies paradise, with fairly timid fish planned to be added in the future, and he's already assisted in the demise of a female kamohara blenny, as well as a hi fin perchlet. I don't think the possum wrasse, radial filefish, fathead sunburst anthias and assessors would stand much a chance in that fight That being said, I may still add a Starck's, but he'd be the very last addition.

 

[Sk8r]

Anybody ever had multiple azures or yellowtails? Dascyllus (which I have 2 species of, golden domino and threestripe) really, really hate chromis, but I was hoping that the chrysipteras might do in multiple.

 

[saf1]

I have 3 Azures in my 40 breeder who share the tank with 2 pajama's and a pair of percula clowns. It seems that the Azures have divided the tank between them left, right, and center but two seem to be a bit closer than the third. Overall they are perfectly fine together and get along well. There are two (fella in center and right side) that tend to get a bit pushy about once a week but nothing that has damaged either. All fins are intact, bodies smooth and neat - so I truly believe they are getting along grand.

Clowns are hosting in several rose bubble tips so are pretty much left alone. There appears to be enough rock for them to bed down for the night. Once side of the tank has lots of hammers and button polyps and the other side is Kenya tree city. Feeding time can get a bit more busy than what I'm used to months past but they make short work of the food and again no fighting.

I forget who noted it but I think anything in the Chrysiptera family is more peaceful. I know the Azures are so far. I've also had a pair of Talbots. Once my larger tank gets finished I'll throw in a few more from the family to mix it up a bit. Damsels really put on a nice splash of color to the tank. At least I think so.

 

[huig]

I have 8 C. parasema together in a 100 g tank without issues and 11 C. hemicyanea in a 400 g tank. I think these are together with talboti and bleekeri the most mellow of the genus.

The parasema are about 12 years old, the hemicyanea 22 years.

I had an open topped 200G tank with 10 pomacentrus alleni but lost all to jumping in a short time.

FWIW I never ever try to keep any species solitary.

 

[anbosu]

Anybody ever had multiple azures or yellowtails? Dascyllus (which I have 2 species of, golden domino and threestripe) really, really hate chromis, but I was hoping that the chrysipteras might do in multiple.

Yes, I have multiples of both chrysiptera - no real issues. The most aggressive of all of mine are the orange tail males.

 

[Roshan8768]

I have had a yellow tail damsel in my 40 breeder for the last 2 years and it is a model citizen to almost everyone. Had some minor bullying to chromis and my maroon clown, but needless to say the maroon gave it right back haha. I don't think it would be a good idea to have more than 1 in a tank less than 75 gallons though unless you were doing a species tank

 

[Sk8r]

Thank you.

Re aggression levels, the neoglyptodons---(blue velvet is one name) and possibly any -glyptodon are probably top of the pushy spectrum, with the dascyllus next pushiest; and the chrysipteras are mild-mannered. Chromis are just something else, and I can see why they're listed apart from damsels. Dascyllus don't like them at all.

It is worth noting, however, that the ones I had to trade off were a mated pair of clarkii clowns, about 4" for the female, who had teeth, bit me every time I worked in the tank, drawing blood, and terrorizing the neoglyptodon (blue velvet) and every other fish in the tank.

 

[anbosu]

My clarkii female chased my Aussie tusk and pyramid butterfly out of a temporary holding tank when I moved a few years ago. She and her mate were given to a friend shortly thereafter. I only have ocellaris pairs now.

 

[asalsman]

So far, so good

So far, so good

I have a tank full of jerks including four damsels, 1 each of 3 stripe (Dascyllus aruanus), Talbot's (Chrysiptera talboti), Yellow Tail (Chrysiptera parasema), and Fiji Devil (Chrysiptera taupou) in a 72g tank. They were introduced 1 by 1 and have gotten along very well after the initial push and shove on the first day for each. I'm waiting to see how they do in the long run, since it's only been 4 months so far.

 

[charnkiat]

Allen's Damsel

Allen's Damsel

I'm cycling this tank. It's a 34g with dimension of 23" x 19" x 20". After it's finished cycling, I would love to keep a group of Allen's Damsel. I saw them at the pet store the other day and just fell in love with them.

I know my tank is quite small, but would it be possible if I were to keep a group of them, and may be with just one another accent bigger fish (flame angel / maroon clown / etc?)

If it's workable, how many Allen's Damsel should I keep in the tank?