Schooling Yellow Tail Damel or Chromis

reefmutts · 01/16/2008, 10:10 AM

I noticed when I go scuba diving that many of the same fish surround a piece of coral or hang out in the vicinity. I'm looking to recreate this a bit. Looking at Chromis which are schooling fish or the tamer Yellow Tail damsels. Have not found much on having 3-5 damesl in the same tank anyone have information or a picture of there tank with 3-5 damels? Which would be better and are the damsels ok in a group of 3-5.

SptfireXIV · 01/16/2008, 10:19 AM

If you're looking for a school, damsels won't provide that. Schooling behavior is normally a defensive mechanism and is not often displayed in aquaria.

You would be better suited to try cardinal fish if you want a school.

wrott · 01/16/2008, 10:20 AM

They are schooling for protection (in #s). When not threatened (by larger predators), they turn on each other, all kinds of Damsels (for territory).
In the wild, it's usually the juveniles that will school around a cave or coral, and when mature, they seek their own territory.
Chromis will stay in schools in larger tanks, but are still bastards to each other.

reefmutts · 01/16/2008, 10:39 AM

So what I'm getting is stick to individual fish in a aquarium rather than getting 3-5 of the same fish. I want my tank to be pretty peaceful. Fish should be lovers not fighters!

thor32766 · 01/16/2008, 11:11 AM

chromis are sweet. I have 5 of them and they have been great so far.

01/16/2008, 10:10 AM	#1
reefmutts Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hood River, OR Posts: 200 Blog Entries: 1	Schooling Yellow Tail Damel or Chromis I noticed when I go scuba diving that many of the same fish surround a piece of coral or hang out in the vicinity. I'm looking to recreate this a bit. Looking at Chromis which are schooling fish or the tamer Yellow Tail damsels. Have not found much on having 3-5 damesl in the same tank anyone have information or a picture of there tank with 3-5 damels? Which would be better and are the damsels ok in a group of 3-5.

01/16/2008, 10:19 AM	#2
SptfireXIV Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 1,247	If you're looking for a school, damsels won't provide that. Schooling behavior is normally a defensive mechanism and is not often displayed in aquaria. You would be better suited to try cardinal fish if you want a school. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Rimless SPS Reef

01/16/2008, 10:20 AM	#3
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	They are schooling for protection (in #s). When not threatened (by larger predators), they turn on each other, all kinds of Damsels (for territory). In the wild, it's usually the juveniles that will school around a cave or coral, and when mature, they seek their own territory. Chromis will stay in schools in larger tanks, but are still bastards to each other. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

01/16/2008, 11:11 AM	#5
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	chromis are sweet. I have 5 of them and they have been great so far. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

01/16/2008, 10:39 AM	#4
reefmutts Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hood River, OR Posts: 200 Blog Entries: 1	So what I'm getting is stick to individual fish in a aquarium rather than getting 3-5 of the same fish. I want my tank to be pretty peaceful. Fish should be lovers not fighters!