Peaceful damselfish recommendations?

[shiftline]

I currently have an azure damselfish who is fairly peaceful and known to be one of the more relaxed of the damsels

I have also read the neon blue star damselfish are one of the most peaceful of the damsels

Does anyone has experience with a shoal of either of those two?

I'm setting up a 5.5' 100g shallow reef in the near future and would like a shoal of 5-6 in the reef and am trying to find the nose peaceful mix

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Chances are that you'll get a lot of aggression with that many Damsels in that small of a tank, no matter how "peaceful" they're said to be. Also I have never heard of any fish shoaling in any tanks other than the really huge ones. I could be wrong so I'm following along to see what's said.

 

[monkey4life]

I have 9 damsels in a 125, minimal agression. I made sure to get all different kinds. No more than two of any single type. Big thing is lots of rock, good flow, and I make sure that they are well fed.

 

[CODE3EMT]

My Starcki seems very mild mannered to the point where other fish sometimes bully him.

 

[3dees]

my yellowtail is never a problem, but it's the only damsel in the tank. even the least aggressive damsels can be a problem when in a tank with others.

 

[shiftline]

Has anyone tried a school of azures?

 

[joshbrookkate]

My Starcki seems very mild mannered to the point where other fish sometimes bully him.

Same. No agression at all in my 75g with a small yellow tang, a flame angel, a chromis, 2 mated and a Diamond Watchman Goby. The Starcki is a beautiful, active fish - my favourite.
Very peaceful tank.

 

[tc2007]

Starcki, Allens, Talbots are all beautiful and non-aggresive fish to keep.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Stick with the genus Chrysiptera, and only get one of any species, and try to add simultaneously. My favorites in the genus are: tricincta, galba, arnazae, azure, springeri, and starki.

 

[shiftline]

Can you mix singles of different species?

I was hoping to go with a shool of possibly azures

 

[eatbreakfast]

Can you mix singles of different species?

I was hoping to go with a shool of possibly azures

I strongly recommend a group with only single specimens from a few species. If you get more than one of any species you risk a pr forming, and if a pr start spawning their aggression increases exponentially.

 

[Maritimer]

Even with singles, you risk pair-formation. The public aquarium I work weekends at had a pair of one blue-green and one blackaxil chromis who spawned on the back wall of their tank regularly, and years ago I had a blue devil who settled down quite amicably with a yellowtail damsel, and shared a den in the rocks every night.

Other than chromis and juveniles, I kind of can't imagine damsels doing too much shoaling - they seem to stake out a little patch of reef and guard it against all comers - up to and including divers.

~Bruce

 

[shiftline]

Peaceful damselfish recommendations?

Who is less aggressive in a group of their own......The peaceful'er damsels. Or Chromis?

 

[ThRoewer]

I strongly recommend a group with only single specimens from a few species. If you get more than one of any species you risk a pr forming, and if a pr start spawning their aggression increases exponentially.

I had a starki pair with a pair of percula in a 80 liter tank, both spawning like crazy, and there was no fighting.
In other tanks I had a Yellowtail pair with a percula pair, spawning, no aggression.

IMO it depends very much on the other fish in the tank if damsels get nasty. Many fish get ignored, while those that are known competition or a threat to the eggs get chased away.
In a past tank my damsels and clownfish would ignore the regal angel pair but get very aggressive towards to my CBB pair and sixline wrasses.

 

[davocean]

Allens are known for being one of the most peaceful, and pretty.
I'm one of those that likes to keep chromis, never been an issue for me, but many disagree w/ that, so take it for what it's worth

 

[shiftline]

A few have suggested Cardinal fish instead. Would a group of banggais or Panama cardinals be a better choice?

 

[ThRoewer]

My banggai cardinals are very aggressive against other fish like clownfish, dottybacks and even 3 times larger angels. Especially the females can get pretty pushy. And they are eating machines that are always first at the food. IMO many damsels are less disruptive.

 

[shiftline]

Haha this is hard to win! How about Panjama cardinals ? Or stick with azure or allens?

 

[davocean]

Pretty sure bangaii's are best as pairs, but the pajama's should be fine in groups, so your choice.
Personally I'd go w/ the allens