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View Full Version : Does anyone know me have a large shoal of damsels ?


shiftline
01-09-2016, 02:14 AM
I'm curious if anyone has a large shoal of damsels? I know there are a few types who tend to be more peaceful and am curious what types you have had long term success with

Aquattro
01-09-2016, 02:59 AM
I have 5 Talbot's in my tank, been happy together for about 8 months.

shiftline
01-09-2016, 03:40 AM
Thanks aquattro. What size is your tank?

Aquattro
01-09-2016, 03:42 AM
Thanks aquattro. What size is your tank?

About 100g. I would have got double that many if I knew they'd get along. But don't want to risk adding more now.

shiftline
01-09-2016, 04:02 AM
Did you add them first or last? (Or some where in the middle).

I'm thinking of trying 5-7 azure or Neon Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni) as I have read they are two of the more peaceful out of the damsels

Fin2you
01-09-2016, 04:22 AM
Did you add them first or last? (Or some where in the middle).

I'm thinking of trying 5-7 azure or Neon Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni) as I have read they are two of the more peaceful out of the damsels

As with any fish sometimes you luck out & other times it doesn't work out the way intended. I was at a LFS earlier this week & saw 2 tanks of Azure's 1 they whole group was chasing each other & mean buggers. in tank 2 there were 3, 1 so timid it hid under a rock, the 2nd bolted & hid the min I walked up to the tank & the 3rd came to the front of the tank & darted around.

Danmcauley
01-09-2016, 04:28 AM
5 allens in a 6 foot tank. Everyone gets along, been 10 months now, but they don't shoal as I would have hoped. Peaceful, minor chasing, but awesome color and they stay pretty small.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
01-09-2016, 05:05 AM
In the wild, they shoal to confuse predators. In a reef tank, they will usually become territorial and bicker with one another rather than shoal since they have little to fear, so it becomes survival of the fittest, rather than a more communal "strength in numbers" and "confuse the predator" shoaling behaviour.

albert_dao
01-09-2016, 05:24 AM
I had like 30 Dascyllus reticulatus in a 230 for nearly a year before a velvet infection wiped them all out :_(

You really have to house them with big, intimidating fish to keep them in line, otherwise breeding pairs bully the others until you're left with two animals.

target
01-09-2016, 06:40 AM
I've got a azure damsel in my sump you can have. He and a lemon damsel are responsible for wiping out every other fish in my tank. Maybe a group will be better.

shiftline
01-09-2016, 06:53 AM
Really? This I so hit or miss. My single azure had been a model citizen

Myka
01-09-2016, 12:26 PM
I'm thinking of trying 5-7 azure or Neon Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni) as I have read they are two of the more peaceful out of the damsels

Ime, Yellowtails are the least aggressive. I have several in clients' tanks, but no more than two. I had a breeding pair in my old 90-gallon tank for a couple years or so until I dismantled it. I definitely find that even the most peaceful Damsel does best with some boisterous fish to keep them in line.

target
01-09-2016, 02:37 PM
Really? This I so hit or miss. My single azure had been a model citizen

Mine was too for almost a year. Then, I guess he matured or something, and wasn't so nice any more.

shiftline
01-09-2016, 03:32 PM
You guys are making me loose hope ok this plan! I have seen multiple pajama cardinals in a tank.. Are they any more peaceful to their own over damsels?

target
01-09-2016, 03:46 PM
Have you looked at green chromis? I'm planning to add 4 to my tank and then another group when I upgrade to the 180g.

Aquattro
01-09-2016, 03:50 PM
Have you looked at green chromis? I'm planning to add 4 to my tank and then another group when I upgrade to the 180g.

Years ago, you could get these for 3 for $5 at JL. I would buy 12, and they would whittle away to 2 or 3 within 6 months. Repeat. I did this for years. They more often than not "vanish".

riceboy
01-09-2016, 04:00 PM
I have 12 blue chromis, and 8 blue stripe damsel in my tank for roughly 5 months now. Chromis have been in there for just under a year

soapy
01-09-2016, 06:46 PM
No damsels, but we have a large shoal of Mithraculus sculptus.

Myka
01-09-2016, 10:42 PM
I've kept Blue-Eye Cardinals in tanks as small as 50-gallons for a couple years or more. They get along pretty well, and shoal better than any of the other options ime.