Tankmate for Dascyllus melanurus damsel

[ACBlinky]

I recently moved the ocellaris clown and neon dottyback from my 21g and put them into the 65g, then removed my fourstripe damsel and put him into the 21g. He was harassing the fairy wrasse and seemed to HATE living in a BB tank -- all he did all day was fight his own reflection in the bottom glass. He's a mean-tempered little guy, but we like him and want to keep him. Right now he's on his own, with just the pistol shrimp and CUC for company. Any ideas for a tankmate, or should I leave this as a 'species tank' with just one fish?

ADD --> Here he is in his nano.

 

[Bret61081]

Id go with another damsel and a shrimp goby! Those little guys are MEAN! I wouldnt trust them with anything but their own kind!!

 

[ACBlinky]

We lost our orange-spot goby yesterday, he jumped out when no one was home. (this was before I moved the clown out and the damsel in). I'd love to get another shrimp goby, not sure if the damsel would leave it alone though -- gobies are very placid compared to these little terrors.

 

[catdoc]

I've got a mean blue devil damsel in with my peacock mantis. They make a nice pair!

 

[fishermania]

How about adottyback they would be able to handle themselves.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=38

Another possible my one of the lined wrasses they usually can take care of themselves very well to.

http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassereefsafe/eightlinewrasse/
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=375

 

[ACBlinky]

I actually tried my neon dottyback in this tank, but moved him back to the 65g after he tore both antennae and one front claw off my pistol shrimp (the shrimp is okay, still digging away). A wrasse is something I hadn't considered, it's a pretty small tank for such a busy fish but maybe a little sixline would be okay. Thanks for the suggestions guys

 

[seaduck]

Yup, put a mantis shrimp in with him that or a great white shark. Those 4 stripe DAMsels are mean. A Domino DAMsel would make an interesting pair with the 4 stripe. Both black and white and both very mean. They will probably eat each other for lunch.

 

[ACBlinky]

Would a great white be too much bioload in a 21g? Seriously though, we really don't want Beeker (that's his name) to be eaten, or eat anyone else. If he ends up with tankmates, I'd like everyone to be reasonably happy with the arrangement

 

[MIKE NY]

As mentioned it would do well with other damsels and larger fish. I have a breeding pair and the female is even nastier defending their nesting sites....I have the marks on my hands to prove it....it's tank mates are other damsels,clowns, large anthias and a PBT....

 

[makoJ]

LOL. My wife has a 4 stripe in her reef too. She named him "Leroy Brown" after the Jim Croce song. He bickers with everyone but never chases or causes damage to anyone. In fact our fairy wrasse will send him runnin for the rock work if he starts something with her. Just depends on the fish I guess.

 

[Ironsheikh]

my fav damsels are the hawaiian snowflake, fiji devil, talbot's

Ive never had a prob w/ damsels and other fish just damsels ---the longer you keep it in the tank the harder it will be to add another damsel --that I know for sure

 

[ACBlinky]

I have a Talbot's and a South Seas damsel in my 65g, this guy never bothered either of them. My fairy wrasse is, admittedly, a wuss. This damsel was just fine with every other fish in the tank (hawk, dwarf angels, dottyback & damsels) but sent that fairy through the eggcrate one too many times for me to leave him there. He also seemed to be going a little crazy fighting his reflection in the bottom glass, it was kind of sad to watch him stressing out all day.

He's a happy little camper now, and has a totally different personality. The tank is beside my desk, and he's becoming quite interactive, checking out everything I'm doing. I'd love to get him a mate, but have no idea how to sex these guys -- I was told because of his behaviour in the other tank that it's likely he's male, but I really don't know.

I guess other damsels are probably the best option, maybe I can find some interesting varieties, but damsels that stay small enough for a 21g aren't too easy to find -- it's surprising how many species actually get quite large (and they're often UGLY once they're full grown).