Martin in China
New member
I have 1 blue yellow tail Damsel and 1 bicolor Dottyback. I would like to have one (maybe 2) more fish in my 20G reef tank, which one would be OKAY to put together whit those bullies I have now?
Tank mate advice
- Thread starter Martin in China
- Start date
Martin in China
New member
The killing part is what I'm afraid of. Some other forum people suggested to put another Damsel in as tank mate.....really possible?? I thought they would kill each other for sure.
My thoughts exactly.
bat21
New member
I know that plenty of people have many damsels. But I can't speak from experience. I only have very peaceful fish. The one damsel I had was taken back to the fish store.
Stevenliu9
New member
+1
The yellowtail is the main reason- very aggressive little bug. If you remove the damsel you might be able to add a pair of clown or gobies.
bat21
New member
Listen to this guy, OP.
ThRoewer
New member
Why that? I have 9 fish in a 25 gallon tank: a pair each of percula clowns, shrimp gobies, mandarins and fridmani, plus a single bluestripe pipefish. And that's not even counting all the shrimp and crabs.
They are all doing fine. In fact besides feeding times the tank looks rather empty.
Well that crowding level is not necessarily good husbandry and the average aquarist does not have your skills at maintaining that type of tank. A bicolor dottyback is not the most tolerant of tank mates either.
DopeCantWin
Active member
I'd also be interested in how long this tank has been up with all these fish, and what are the Mandarins eating.
JoeVandal49
New member
Both fish in the tank are what i would consider highly aggressive.
IMO with those two fish in the tank, you will eventually be left with the more aggressive or largest of the two. Any other additions will be harassed to death quickly.
Just my opinion.
IMO with those two fish in the tank, you will eventually be left with the more aggressive or largest of the two. Any other additions will be harassed to death quickly.
Just my opinion.
I agree. Which is why my opinion was not to add any fish.
Martin in China
New member
How about a cleaner shrimp?
My tank is up and running now for about 7 weeks, the fish were added 1 week ago and so far they are OK with each other, even feeding is going calm, lets hope it stays this way. I am now just thinking in adding a few hermit crabs and 1 cleaner shrimp (as big as I can get).
My tank is up and running now for about 7 weeks, the fish were added 1 week ago and so far they are OK with each other, even feeding is going calm, lets hope it stays this way. I am now just thinking in adding a few hermit crabs and 1 cleaner shrimp (as big as I can get).
CoralsAddiction
Active member
There's is a decent chance your dotty will eat cleaner shrimp. I recommend adding the shrimp at night because fish might think it's food. Happened to me once when I added a cleaner shrimp only to see its demise in the hands of a lineatus wrasse and clownfish.
Martin in China
New member
If I add a cleaner shrimp he/she will be much bigger than my fish, but adding the shrimp at night is a good idea, thanks. BTW is adding 2 shrimp really OK?
Last edited:
Martin in China
New member
Great, thanks sde1500
I had two yellow tail damsels that I got together at the LFS. They worked for about 5 months, but eventually the bigger one killed the smaller one. The yellow tail damsel that lived has been living peacefully with my pair of false percs and yellow tang. I also have a cleaner shrimp in the tank.
