Tracey's Damselfish - NEW on LA

[Reef Frog]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=3287

The description says maximum length 2" and not particularly aggressive except when territory needs to be defended. And they're recommending it for groups. It's a beautiful fish that I've never seen before. I was thinking it would look spectacular in a group if it could actually work out.

What do you think about it, or even similar Damsels, in groups ? I have heard of other Damsel species working well in groups. Does anyone out there own this fish and can give some real life reports?

I've think I've read that Damsel groups tend to distribute & squelch aggression towards others. True? In my case I've got a mature 65g w/ RG, Yellow Assessor, Yellow Goby & small perchlet. I've always done the vampire cross thing with my fingers when I hear "Damsel". But I know some like the Talbot's can work out just fine with other fish. But I'm still thinking its a big risk.

Any opinions or comments?

If this turns out to be a stupid idea, my plan B right now is a group of Yellow Striped or Red Cardinal fish.

 

[scchase]

I've kept Kupangs Chrysiptera hemicyanea in groups before, they each staked out a little bowling bowl size territory and bickered with each other but that was about it left everyone else alone in general. Same with Talbot's.

 

[Sk8r]

They look very similar to and are same group as the Fiji Blue Devil, which, belying their name, are pretty mild, good citizens among other damsels, and really don't bother much---given enough room. Keeping any single species of damsel in under a hundred gallons is likely to end up with one of that kind. Dascyllus damsels are generally the 'hot' ones, along with the blue velvets, disposition and habit much like maroon clowns. I'd say if you have a 200 gallon tank, keeping a small flock of these might be real pretty. I have a 100 gallon and tend to keep one-ofs, for safety, especially given my tank shape. "Long" would be better.

 

[Reef Frog]

Well it looks like having a grouping of these Chrysiptera traceyi would be ill advised for now, at least until the next tank. I guess I'll shoot for a modest grouping of cardinals. Thanks all for the information.

 

[drstratton]

Beautiful fish, I'm tempted to place one in my tank!

 

[inktomi]

Very pretty damsels. I've been looking for something that I can add a small group of to my few-months-running 270g. These guys might fit the bill!

 

[joetbs]

They are not good in a group at all. I tried a trio I collected in a 90g reef with a bunch of other fish and they killed each other off within a month.

In the wild they have little territories of a couple feet that they defend from each other but all over the place in Micronesia/Marshall Islands. They are pretty docile though, much like a rollandi or talboti. The blue/purple hue is a pretty unique shade.