stocking 90 damselfish?

[nobleprole]

Hey- what do you all recommend. 90 gallon reef, up 1 yr. Current residents, 1 maroon clown (2.5"), 1 valentini puffer (~ 2.75"), 1 royal gramma ( 3" actually in qt for another week) and 1 GD mantis shrimp! Anyway, stocking question is 1) would like to add TBD# of azure damsels and perhaps TBD # of talbot damsels as they are the least aggressive of damsels. 2) 1 flame hawkfish. My questions are 1)how many of the damsels as I've read multipls can spread aggression but don't want to overdo, 2) in what order (hawkfish/damsels as I assume I would add damsels all at once. 3) other suggestions for stocking? BTW the Maroon clown is kind of driving me away from the peaceful possibilities and the azures are so vibrant and active. Was thinking of vanderbilt chromis too (or as a replacement for) but not sure I'm up to the multiple feedings and their killing of each other. Also, I am acitively trying to get that mantis out! Ugg. Thanks for any suggestions(sk8 out there?)

 

[nereefpat]

I wouldn't recommend a mantis shrimp with any fish that you care about, so it's good you are getting it out.... maybe the sump is a good place?

The hawk can go before or after the damsels. I bet they won't notice each other.

I would try 3 of each damsel. The danger will be if the maroon clown will tolerate them.

Good luck

 

[nobleprole]

Thank you! Yep that Maroon nips my hand everytime though he and the valentini are buds and just hang together. Hopefully the gramma will hold its own as will the damsels. Maroon was my first fish so he's not going anywhere, though I'm ready to send him to the QT for awhile if he's acting up. In the meantime it's a battle to catch that GD mantis! It's been in there for 6 months but I'm getting serious now and rock is coming out! Thanks again! Oh- my QT (20 L)probably can't support multiple damsels so I may need add directly to DT ugg,

 

[Timfish]

The Chryseptira damsels Talboti, Azure, Yellow Tail and Randalls all have the same body shape, size and behaviour. I mix and match them freely and in your system I don't see a problem with 8 - 12 of any combination of the 4. The hawkfish is different enough in habit and behaviour it doesn't matter if you add it before or after the damsels. If you add Vanderbilt's (much prettier and hardier than blue/green chromis) you'll want to add them before any of the Chryseptira damsels. I have these species of damsels together with out much problem. Your marron is likely stay the most aggressive, dominate fish in your system.

 

[pfan151]

In my 90 I stick with pairs. Pair of azure, Talbots, Rolland’s. Not are aggressive towards each other or other tank mates at all. Started with 3 azure since divers den for some reason only sells the CB azures in trios. One was picked of by the other two within a month. I’d recommend either pairs or going with a large group rather than trios. I currently have 20 in QT now for my 210g I recently set up.

Also, I’d definitely pay the little extra for the CB azures. They have been bulletproof for me while wild azures have not really done that great for some reason. I just ordered some wild ones and half arrived dead and 3 more died within a couple days. This is my second time with a similar experience on the wilds

 

[tjm9331]

Thank you! Yep that Maroon nips my hand everytime though he and the valentini are buds and just hang together. Hopefully the gramma will hold its own as will the damsels. Maroon was my first fish so he's not going anywhere, though I'm ready to send him to the QT for awhile if he's acting up. In the meantime it's a battle to catch that GD mantis! It's been in there for 6 months but I'm getting serious now and rock is coming out! Thanks again! Oh- my QT (20 L)probably can't support multiple damsels so I may need add directly to DT ugg,

If you can't QT, at the very least put them through 12 days of TTM with a prazipro regiment during the 12 days, separate them out in a couple of 5 gallon buckets if you need to. This way you at least prevent ich from entering your system.