Damsel fish aquarium!

[Charley Diesing]

Well I decided to take a new route in my tank! after losing mulitudes of fish from Ich always the expensive ones I decided to go with a Damselfish aquarium...

Why? Well because they're cheap and colorful. And my main focus is corals and such. So I really just want a splash of color with some movement.

My plan at the moment is to go all damsels, although I may add a six-line wrasse...

For filtration I run Carbon + GFO, I have a SWC 120 skimmer(very overrated), and I change 4-6 gallons weekly.

My question is: What kind and how many?

Currently here is my list:

3x Talbot's Damselfish-http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+128&pcatid=128
1x Yellowtail Damselfish- http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+134&pcatid=134
1x Blue Damselfish-http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+111&pcatid=111
1x Blue Sapphire Damselfish-http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+2073&pcatid=2073

Also what should my strategy be for adding these? Because I don't plan QTing them. Should I just add them all at once to possibly avoid aggression...

Give me your thoughts!

Thanks,

Charley

 

[pinnatus]

They may kill each other off. Not sure.

I would add them together so that they all get established together, except that is a lot of fish to add at one time and may upset your biofiltration.

 

[Charley Diesing]

They may kill each other off. Not sure.

I would add them together so that they all get established together, except that is a lot of fish to add at one time and may upset your biofiltration.

My thoughts exactly. I think I'm going to add half and half. But more soon... Like add half this week... Than add the next half in about two weeks. Also I'll add him in the dark the second time. Hopefully they won't be too established.

Any other thoughts guys?

 

[Joe Pusdesris]

I have 5x yellowtails in my 75 gallon, but only for a day so far so I have no real advice.

 

[pinnatus]

You realize that damsels will re-arrange your tank to their liking.

 

[Charley Diesing]

You realize that damsels will re-arrange your tank to their liking.

I've heard of this. Although I have had some Blue tails before in the past. And have never experienced this.

 

[NYCBOB]

the tank would look like wrestle mania unless u put them all in at the same time.

 

[o2manyfish]

I have a collection of damsels in my reef tank, granted its 400g so it has a lot more room. But I have maybe 20 damsels in the tank. The damsels seem to only pick on damsels of similar body type.

I have 6+ of the blue saphire damsels. These tend to pick on each other quite a bit. I also have 6 of the Kupang - which are similar to the yellow tail and they don't pick on anyone.

I also have two of the large blue devils, which have started showing signs of spawning. And I have a pair of large Starkii. The larger damsels don't bother anyone.

I think the damsels are great boosts of color to a reef tank, and they make sure any extra food is cleaned up.

Dave B

 

[Joe Pusdesris]

I think that if you have enough of them, then the bickering is distributed and not all focused on one unfortunate fish. Also, the damsels are pretty tough so they can take a bit of a beating from eachother. Damsel tanks have a lot of activity and are fun to watch as a result.

 

[Charley Diesing]

I think that if you have enough of them, then the bickering is distributed and not all focused on one unfortunate fish. Also, the damsels are pretty tough so they can take a bit of a beating from eachother. Damsel tanks have a lot of activity and are fun to watch as a result.

My thoughts exactly. Now I'm wondering what the perfect number is. Any input?

 

[Joe Pusdesris]

How big of a tank? Depends on how much space there is for them to establish a territory or hiding place.

I see conflicting data on yellow damsels. Some suggests are found by themselves, and without a specific territory they defend, others suggest the opposite.

Yellow tails on the other hand are found in groups retreating into a territory as with chromis (I think, from observing my own fish, but haven't seen videos). I think the general rule of thumb is such that 5 is a good number for scoaling fish.

Dominos and striped damsels are found in family groups defending their territory from other fish.

For damsels, I think the scuba videos are much more informative than any of the hobby websites. I think there is just too much misinformation about them in the hobby since they are all blanketed together.

http://footage.shutterstock.com/cli...reus-swimming-underwater-in-fiji-islands.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wbppGHj6HU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBYkunZ9AM4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QucgA5qtHQ

 

[dvmsn]

I have a damsel in every tank I have. I can also vouch for the azures. They won't really school. Each will stake out a territory and defend it somewhat diligently but not to the degree of a domino for example. No aggression toward non-damsels.

 

[SushiGirl]

All of those in a 40 gallon tank? Plus a sixline? I envision Armageddon LOL.

I don't think watching scuba videos helps when it comes to keeping aquariums, the size of the territory and the predator threats & food sources are totally different, so most schooling/shoaling fish don't school/shoal in home-sized aquariums.

 

[MrTuskfish]

All of those in a 40 gallon tank? Plus a sixline? I envision Armageddon LOL.

I don't think watching scuba videos helps when it comes to keeping aquariums, the size of the territory and the predator threats & food sources are totally different, so most schooling/shoaling fish don't school/shoal in home-sized aquariums.

I agree....and ich is usually easy to cure in a QT.

 

[Caetano_Thiago]

honey damsels and sergeants are cool

 

[rssjsb]

I agree....and ich is usually easy to cure in a QT.

But he doesn't care because damsels are "cheap."

 

[Joe Pusdesris]

But he doesn't care because damsels are "cheap."

They develop immunity rather quickly.

 

[rssjsb]

The develop a tolerance, which is different from immunity. That tolerance will continue until something changes and stress increases (heater goes out, territoriality, fighting, etc.) then you have an outbreak that comes on fast and is devastating. Damsels are pretty hardy but they're not indestructible.

 

[Charley Diesing]

I agree....and ich is usually easy to cure in a QT.

Yes I agree most of everything in this hobby isn't "difficult" it just takes for ever. I've already gone fallow twice 11 weeks each time. Now I'm just going to go with $4 damsels and see how it goes.

I'm aware if something drastic in water quality happens that I might get a Ich breakout resulting in death. But I'm willing to take the chance because this hobby is for me not for the fish.

 

[MrTuskfish]

The develop a tolerance, which is different from immunity. That tolerance will continue until something changes and stress increases (heater goes out, territoriality, fighting, etc.) then you have an outbreak that comes on fast and is devastating. Damsels are pretty hardy but they're not indestructible.

Yes. No fish develops permanent immunity to all strains of ich.

"Cheap seems to mean "disposable".