damsels

asherah · #1 02-17-2006, 07:03 AM

Probably a silly question but can I put a couple schools of damsels together?
Will they bother my 2 ocellaris? Clownfish are damsels right?

amanda

seashells · #2 02-17-2006, 07:47 AM

will depend on the size of your tank and how many you wish to put together. Very territorial especially if they have eggs. I believe clowns belong to the damsel family.

Reefhawk1 · #3 02-17-2006, 09:09 AM

Depends on the type of Damsel you want to get for your tank. Blue devil damsels can get very aggressive. I had one for three years and for two years I could put my hands in the tank and clean and move items around. The last year of it's life it began to bite me. It would ambush my arm by sneaking around live rock in the tank. He finally lost the battle to a more aggressive moray eel.

Apparently schools of 6 of these fish do well together. Chromis are another schooling fish that wonderful to watch in the aquarium.

saltynuts · #4 02-17-2006, 12:46 PM

chromis school for a bit then they stop.
once they like the area they are in and or get bigger

Doug · #5 02-17-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asherah

Probably a silly question but can I put a couple schools of damsels together?
Will they bother my 2 ocellaris? Clownfish are damsels right?

amanda

Over the years I have tried various groups. I once tried about 5 yellow tailed blue damsels. They were fine for awile, then I had to remove the weakest one at a time as they weeded them out. I eventually ended up with a breeding pair, that use to attack me with gusto.

I have had pretty good luck with groups of chromis damsels, even when a large pair bred behind a huge rock of green star polyps. However they require feedings, several times/day to keep them healthy. They dont seem to quarrel as much, but it still happens.

I currently have three grown PJ cardinals. Had 5 but gave two away. Seem to get along pretty good. Boss cardinal lets the others know who he/she is but thet otherwise behave. At least they dont try chew on my skin.

As in most situtions, the key seems to be enough room and enough hiding places for them. Plus enough food, that they dont have to drive competion out of their area, that may compete for less food.

Murminator · #6 02-17-2006, 03:43 PM

I have had 2 chromis for a year that are the best of friends they even ganged up on an aggressive damsel and forced him to jump ship.