Damsels---require 100 gallons.

Sk8r · 02/26/2014, 12:53 PM

Not per damsel. You can get by with 1 of the smaller damsels, (yellowtail, chromis) in a 50, but if you want multiples, go to 100. They're not all that aggressive if they have room. If there isn't enough room they go frantic and attack anything that crowds them.

I run a damsel tank of 100 g with a blue devil, a 4 stripe, 3 chromis, an azure, a blue star...they're in there with tiny gobies, blennies, etc, and there's not a whisper of aggression. More rock is good with them.

But do NOT let a fish store sell you a damsel for a tank under 50 gallons. The only damsel that regularly succeeds in less is the smallest version of clowns. The larger clowns would terrorize the damsels in my 100 and demand about half of it.

They're the brightest fish on the reef, and make a busy tank: chromis will also school; but give them their room!

Mhay · 02/26/2014, 01:24 PM

Good to know. I just picked up a yellow tail and plan to keep him as the only damsel. I've got a bunch of rock work for him to swim and hide in. He seems to really love swimming in one end and pop out the other. Hoping this will help avoid any territorial issues.

Sk8r · 02/26/2014, 01:43 PM

Given a 75 to be boss of he'll be in heaven. You see him threaten, but given enough room for the other fish to move, that's all you'll ever see. Damsels in an adequate tank are all bark and no bite. They fuss at each other and seem to chase...but here's the neat thing: in the wild, damsels tend to hang pretty close to home, some always within 2-3 feet of their holes. So these are a kind of bright, often-moving fish that is perfectly at home in a 2-3 foot wide tank.

02/26/2014, 12:53 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Damsels---require 100 gallons. Not per damsel. You can get by with 1 of the smaller damsels, (yellowtail, chromis) in a 50, but if you want multiples, go to 100. They're not all that aggressive if they have room. If there isn't enough room they go frantic and attack anything that crowds them. I run a damsel tank of 100 g with a blue devil, a 4 stripe, 3 chromis, an azure, a blue star...they're in there with tiny gobies, blennies, etc, and there's not a whisper of aggression. More rock is good with them. But do NOT let a fish store sell you a damsel for a tank under 50 gallons. The only damsel that regularly succeeds in less is the smallest version of clowns. The larger clowns would terrorize the damsels in my 100 and demand about half of it. They're the brightest fish on the reef, and make a busy tank: chromis will also school; but give them their room! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/26/2014, 01:24 PM	#2
Mhay Crazy Cat Lady Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 468	Good to know. I just picked up a yellow tail and plan to keep him as the only damsel. I've got a bunch of rock work for him to swim and hide in. He seems to really love swimming in one end and pop out the other. Hoping this will help avoid any territorial issues. __________________ Maggie Current Tank Info: Coralife Biocube 29

02/26/2014, 01:43 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Given a 75 to be boss of he'll be in heaven. You see him threaten, but given enough room for the other fish to move, that's all you'll ever see. Damsels in an adequate tank are all bark and no bite. They fuss at each other and seem to chase...but here's the neat thing: in the wild, damsels tend to hang pretty close to home, some always within 2-3 feet of their holes. So these are a kind of bright, often-moving fish that is perfectly at home in a 2-3 foot wide tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.