hotelbravo
Active member
I am just wondering how many damsels can go into a 180? i was thinking around 15 yellow tails or possibly mixing a few different species together but how many is to many?
how many damsels can go in a 180
- Thread starter hotelbravo
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In most cases ... 1
Flaring Afro
Puffer Geek
15 is way too many. You'll either have dead fish left and right or you'll be in a standard cichlid situation where no one fish is being picked on but they all are bickering constantly with themselves and others and you'll be fighting disease outbreaks etc and no one will be happy.
I'd only have a few damsels in the system total, and that's including chromis and clowns. Even then, you might not be lucky and have to remove one.
I'd only have a few damsels in the system total, and that's including chromis and clowns. Even then, you might not be lucky and have to remove one.
CoralsAddiction
Active member
You can probably get away with it if you have plenty of live rock. Sometimes damsels can get boring very quickly though and you might eventually regret the decision.
hotelbravo
Active member
so i was under the impression that putting damsels in larger groups would make them less likely to kill each other and they could coexist. ive seen peoples tanks with over 10 damsels in there for years. there is alot of live rock probably atleast 200 pounds.
hotelbravo
Active member
worst case scenario i end up getting a lionfish. the damsels would be the smallest thing in the tank anyways and likely the only thing a lion could eat.
Flaring Afro
Puffer Geek
People also do this with cichlids but it is a tank full of stressed fish that will easily lead to disease etc. I really don't see the point when there are more interesting fish out there that don't cost much more and are peaceful.
I also haven't seen it where the damsels actually got to their adult size.
ThRoewer
New member
You can for sure put a pair or harem group of a single species in a tank that size. That worked for me in 20 gallon tanks.
In a 180 groups of two vastly different species may work.
I could imagine a pair or trio of Starckis (Chrysiptera starcki) getting along with a group of Talbot's Damselfish (Chrysiptera talboti).
In a 180 groups of two vastly different species may work.
I could imagine a pair or trio of Starckis (Chrysiptera starcki) getting along with a group of Talbot's Damselfish (Chrysiptera talboti).
zooman72
New member
A friend of mine had 6 YT damsels in his 180 (good deal of live rock too) for a number of years before he broke down the tank because of a move - they displayed no aggression to each other or to any of the other fish in the tank, which included a pair of ocellaris clowns, couple of dwarf angels, several cardinal fish, and a couple of other various fishes - I thought they looked quite good, but I appreciate them more than most others do...
olemiss reb
Molon Labe
My 90 has 5 three stripe, 5 blue devil, 3 talbots, 3 yellow belly, 2 yellow tail, a single springer, and 2 allens. They've been together for at least 5 years. My 75 has 5 azures that have been together for 3 years. Constant bickering but no worse for wear. I've found that aggression is spread out among the group and one is never singled out. Both tanks have other fish that are ignored for the most part.
fishfreak2009
Swimming in the School
I think damsels get a pretty bad rap. Added to a tank later on and when kept in groups like they normally are found they aren't that bad. I have two female blue devils in my 380 and plan to add a male. I also have a single bankanensis damsel (Pomacentrus bankanensis) who is a model citizen. There is a breeding pair of yellow belly damsels (Chrysiptera hemicyanea) as well. I plan on adding a few Rolland's damsels and talbots damsels, as well as a group of 9 green chromis (I've never had issues with mine killing one another off, but I feed my tank 4-5x daily). There is also a pair of tomato clowns in the display, a splendid dottyback, an orchid dottyback, and a breeding pair of blackcap basslets. No aggression is shown between anybody currently.
I tend to agree Fishfreak2009. They do get a bad rap both has aggressive and their use to cycle tanks 
They can add a lot of color and movement to a tank provided it is set up correctly. But then again that shouldn't be anything you do different for other fish you keep. They all have requirements.
I can see the reference to cichlids though. Falls back to planning and setup though. Nothing excessive and you should be fine.
They can add a lot of color and movement to a tank provided it is set up correctly. But then again that shouldn't be anything you do different for other fish you keep. They all have requirements.I can see the reference to cichlids though. Falls back to planning and setup though. Nothing excessive and you should be fine.
hotelbravo
Active member
Okay thank you all for the feedback I think I want to do 3 species in groups of 5 so Talbot's damsel, yellowtail, and one other species totalling 15.
ThRoewer
New member
IME Damselfish primarily become aggressive devils when they are kept as singles. Single males will get pretty nasty after a while. But if kept in pairs or harems they are far less concerned with other fish. Exception are known egg predators and with coral dwelling species fish that eat corals.
In the past I had damsel and dottyback pairs with all my clownfish pairs in rather small tanks and there was never a problem with aggression.
Damsels and dottybacks got a bad wrap because they are usually kept solitary which goes totally against their nature as rather social fish.
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In the past I had damsel and dottyback pairs with all my clownfish pairs in rather small tanks and there was never a problem with aggression.
Damsels and dottybacks got a bad wrap because they are usually kept solitary which goes totally against their nature as rather social fish.
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eastlake
New member
I say go for it. The species you listed aren't as aggressive as some of the other bruisers, like dominoes. I have a pair of allens in a "community" reef and the only time the male gets angry is when any fish shown moderate interest in his eggs. Otherwise the two could care less about anyone else in the tank.
hotelbravo
Active member
so would adding 5 three strip damsels to the group be a no no since they are not in the chrysiptera family?
anbosu
New member
Yeah you'll probably end up with a lot of dead fish. If you like that look, check out the tuxedo damsels.
hotelbravo
Active member
I'll see if my local fish store can get those in if not I will have to pass and see what else their supplier can get. I am loyal to my LFS and they are loyal to their supplier so if we can't find that than I'll have to just settle. I do really like those tuxedo ones thanks for suggesting those.
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