Thanks Dawn! It was a relief. And now, three of them have found each other. They really loosen up when they're around each other. Separately they were hiding and alone. Two of them dueled for the rights to the barnacle today. It was a great nature show! Like an elephant seal beach duel, in miniature. Hopefully, the last one in the wall will come out and join the party. And there's the last one in QT to add. So not quite the dazzle yet, but I'm encouraged so far. They also eat more around each other. They're very competitive.
I decided to add the Royal Grammas next. Seven. For this size harem, I think it's good for them to have the tank to get settled. With only the blennies in before them, they can focus on establishing a peaceful hierarchy, without distraction. Seeing these fish together in my tank is my dream. I've kept a harem before, in v1, and it was so cool! Adding them this early in the introduction schedule indicates their priority.
Keeping groups of fish gives you much more natural behaviors. Each species performs it's own soap opera. Keeping multiple groups gives you multiple channels to watch. My challenge will be to add two more groups - of damsels. I don't know how many of each can coexist together in this tank. Right now I'm leaning towards five of each. You need enough, to spread around aggression. But few enough that they can have some space in a given tank size.
And then, there are the interactions between species groups. Getting the right combination is tricky. It helps if they hang at different levels in the water column. Also, I think it helps if they all look different from each other. Truthfully, I have no idea how it will go. I have given it some thought, now it's time to see if it works.
I decided to add the Royal Grammas next. Seven. For this size harem, I think it's good for them to have the tank to get settled. With only the blennies in before them, they can focus on establishing a peaceful hierarchy, without distraction. Seeing these fish together in my tank is my dream. I've kept a harem before, in v1, and it was so cool! Adding them this early in the introduction schedule indicates their priority.
Keeping groups of fish gives you much more natural behaviors. Each species performs it's own soap opera. Keeping multiple groups gives you multiple channels to watch. My challenge will be to add two more groups - of damsels. I don't know how many of each can coexist together in this tank. Right now I'm leaning towards five of each. You need enough, to spread around aggression. But few enough that they can have some space in a given tank size.
And then, there are the interactions between species groups. Getting the right combination is tricky. It helps if they hang at different levels in the water column. Also, I think it helps if they all look different from each other. Truthfully, I have no idea how it will go. I have given it some thought, now it's time to see if it works.
