Ocellaris and Blue Damsel Compatibility

deboM3

New member
Hey everyone,

I was wondering if I could get several opinions on the compatibility of an Ocellaris and a Blue Damsel in an 18 gallon tank. The tank has been set up for almost 3 months and the Damsel has been living alone in it for 1 month.

Yesterday I purchased a tank-raised Ocellaris that is slightly smaller than the Damsel, and although there has been no obvious aggression towards each other, the Ocellaris refuses to eat and spends most of it's time in one spot midway up the tank near a wall. I've heard it may take awhile for them to adjust to the new surrounding and feel comfortable enough to eat, but I was wondering if you thought putting the two together was ok or not. Before putting the Ocellaris in the tank, I rearranged the rocks to try and diminish the Damsel's territorial advantage. A couple people have told me they are not a good match and that I should get rid of the Damsel (which I'd hate to do, I've grown fond of the little guy!) but a couple other people have said it should be fine. I'd really like to keep them in the tank together if possible.

If you've had an experience with these two types of fish or if you have any knowledge on them, your opinion would be greatly appreciated! I would like a few more opinions before I decide whether to separate them or not. I also have a 30 gallon tank set up that is currently holding only two cleaner shrimp, but is awaiting a mantis shrimp. If absolutely necessary, I could separate the fish for the time being. Please let me know what you think!

(for further information, the levels of the tank are as follows: ammonia = 0, nitrate = 10, nitrite = 0, pH = 8.2)
 
exactly...you should only have damsels with larger aggressive fish in my opinion

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9224487#post9224487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
get rid of that damnsel they wil attack anything you put in the tank
 
Not true with my damsels, mine are a year old and have never attacked any of my fish. I have two Ocellaris clownfish, chromis, firefish, and a dwarf pygmy angel. They are yellow tailed damsels if that makes any difference.
 
In a bigger tank I would say that your clownfish would be okay because he has places he can run to, but it may become a bit of a problem due to the size of your tank. It may be that your clown is not in the best of health even though he may look okay.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9224487#post9224487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
get rid of that damnsel they wil attack anything you put in the tank

Not in all cases whatsoever. I have two oc clowns and a yt damsel and they just played the whole time. :rolleyes: No aggression whatsoever. It's hit or miss with damsels.

I have since got rid of the damsel because i have always wanted a firefish and thought 4 fish would be too large of a bioload in a 20 gallon.
 
Re: Ocellaris and Blue Damsel Compatibility

I have my pair of ocellaris clowns with my blue devil damsel. I have never seen my damsel attack my clowns and he doesn't interfere with the clowns breeding. When i had other fish in the tank, my damsel seemed to protect them. When my other fish would get close to the clowns, my blue damsel would get in between them and wouldn't let them get closer to the clowns. The clowns and the damsel used to sleep together before my clowns started sleeping where they spawn.
 
I have a 3yr old pair of clowns in an 18" LTA and four blue damsels in my 300g tank and there's zero aggression at all...probably due to the size of the tank, but when I had them in a 90g temporarily they didn't fight at all either.
 
So heres an update with a couple more questions...

Tonight when i came home, I checked on the tank, and i cought the damsel nipping at the clown. I immediately removed the damsel and put it in my 30gal tank that is empty, but awaiting a mantis shrimp to come in at my lfs.

If i let the clown establish a territory in the tank, would it have a better chance getting along with the damsel? Would the extra twelve gallons in my other tank enable them to get along?

From what Ive heard from people at stores, and from what it seems from peoples replys to this thread, is that it is "hit or miss" whether the two will get along. I guess I just hit a miss.

Im thinking that it is a lost cause keeping these two together...

Anyone else have any advice on what i could try to do?
 
By taking out the damsel, you may ahve solved the problem. Maybe now the clown can have some peace and a chance to establish his own territory. Maybe if you change the rock around a little, that may help the situation as well.
 
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