Damsel aggression scale - Three and four stripe

CloruroDiSodio · 05/29/2009, 10:16 AM

Hi gang,

If you had to give the Dascyllus species (three and four stripe) a ranking on the "damselfish aggression scale", where would they be? I'll start with a couple other species for example: on a scale 1 to 10 (1 least aggressive, 10 worst) I think chromis would be 1 and Dascyllus trimaculatus (three spot) at 10. I've heard the three/four stripes are a schooling type of fish and was wondering if I should give these a try.

atwinparadox2 · 05/29/2009, 10:37 AM

If you are going to give any Damsel a try, stick to the Chromis, even they can be aggressive at times but not anything like some others. Any other damsel will be hell for you and are impossible to get out once they are wreaking havoc. Just my 2 cents.

shaginwagon13 · 05/29/2009, 10:40 AM

From what I hear they are friendly and can be a less aggressive type of Damsel however from past experiance I would never put another Damsel in my tank. I made the mistake of putting 4 damsels in my 200 Gallon as my first fish and they just tormented other fish so much I could no longer add addition fish that were the same size or smaller then the damsels.

Dholmblad · 05/29/2009, 10:42 AM

Has anyone had bad experiences with chromis? I am looking to put 4 or 5 or so in my 90.

tipmoff · 05/29/2009, 11:34 AM

I have 4 Chromis in a 52 Gallon mixed reef and have no problems with them. I also have two 4 stripe damsels and other than a few chases around the rock I haven't had any problems with them either. I also have 2 Clowns. Firegoby, and a Coral Beauty Angel. The firegoby is a bit skiddish of the Angel but not of the other fish and isn't bothered by them.

atwinparadox2 · 05/29/2009, 12:28 PM

I have 4 in my 90 and they don't bother any other fish but each other.

iFisch · 05/29/2009, 05:45 PM

I would only put one type of species in at a time. I tried three damsels, but the biggest fish became dominant and tailed the two smaller ones all day long. I took two back. I have one now. It's a neon velvet damsel, and it's the sweetest/shy fish I've ever owned.

It was easily dominated by my ORA clownfish, and the damsel now follows the clown like a lost dog. The clownfish doesn't mind, and often tries to out swim him. Extremely lucky to have such a peaceful fish.

If buying locally, try and a healthy one, but one that looks out of place and is small in stature. He is going to usually be more peaceful than any others in the group.

cynot · 05/29/2009, 09:31 PM

I have 4 damsels in a 24 gal. nano-cube. 1 domino, 2 striped, and one blue devil. The devil is by far the meanest. The stripes school together and the domino is a loner, but won't back down from the devil. Had I known about their agressiveness, I might have chosen different fish.

H.Veras · 05/29/2009, 09:42 PM

i had two blue damsels and i won't ever again buy them... lil devils they almost killed each other, plus i had to remove all my rock to take them out.... wanna know what i did to them hahhahah i gave it to a shard in the LFS. i would get the blue/green chromis...

05/29/2009, 10:16 AM	#1
CloruroDiSodio Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 597	Damsel aggression scale - Three and four stripe Hi gang, If you had to give the Dascyllus species (three and four stripe) a ranking on the "damselfish aggression scale", where would they be? I'll start with a couple other species for example: on a scale 1 to 10 (1 least aggressive, 10 worst) I think chromis would be 1 and Dascyllus trimaculatus (three spot) at 10. I've heard the three/four stripes are a schooling type of fish and was wondering if I should give these a try.

05/29/2009, 10:37 AM	#2
atwinparadox2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingston, PA Posts: 782	If you are going to give any Damsel a try, stick to the Chromis, even they can be aggressive at times but not anything like some others. Any other damsel will be hell for you and are impossible to get out once they are wreaking havoc. Just my 2 cents. __________________ \| begin each day as if it were on purpose \| when in doubt, remove all doubt \| Current Tank Info: \| 90 Gallon Main display, 2/175 MH, 2 actinic, 20 sump w/20 fuge, about to dabble with a algae scrub screen \|\| 75 in the works \|\|

05/29/2009, 10:40 AM	#3
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	From what I hear they are friendly and can be a less aggressive type of Damsel however from past experiance I would never put another Damsel in my tank. I made the mistake of putting 4 damsels in my 200 Gallon as my first fish and they just tormented other fish so much I could no longer add addition fish that were the same size or smaller then the damsels. __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

05/29/2009, 11:34 AM	#5
tipmoff Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 430	I have 4 Chromis in a 52 Gallon mixed reef and have no problems with them. I also have two 4 stripe damsels and other than a few chases around the rock I haven't had any problems with them either. I also have 2 Clowns. Firegoby, and a Coral Beauty Angel. The firegoby is a bit skiddish of the Angel but not of the other fish and isn't bothered by them. __________________ "When I was a boy the Dead Sea was only sick. ." Member T.B.R.C. Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Mixed Reef

05/29/2009, 12:28 PM	#6
atwinparadox2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingston, PA Posts: 782	I have 4 in my 90 and they don't bother any other fish but each other. __________________ \| begin each day as if it were on purpose \| when in doubt, remove all doubt \| Current Tank Info: \| 90 Gallon Main display, 2/175 MH, 2 actinic, 20 sump w/20 fuge, about to dabble with a algae scrub screen \|\| 75 in the works \|\|

05/29/2009, 10:42 AM	#4
Dholmblad Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern va Posts: 563	Has anyone had bad experiences with chromis? I am looking to put 4 or 5 or so in my 90.

05/29/2009, 05:45 PM	#7
iFisch Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: FL Posts: 3,068	I would only put one type of species in at a time. I tried three damsels, but the biggest fish became dominant and tailed the two smaller ones all day long. I took two back. I have one now. It's a neon velvet damsel, and it's the sweetest/shy fish I've ever owned. It was easily dominated by my ORA clownfish, and the damsel now follows the clown like a lost dog. The clownfish doesn't mind, and often tries to out swim him. Extremely lucky to have such a peaceful fish. If buying locally, try and a healthy one, but one that looks out of place and is small in stature. He is going to usually be more peaceful than any others in the group.

05/29/2009, 09:31 PM	#8
cynot Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 18	I have 4 damsels in a 24 gal. nano-cube. 1 domino, 2 striped, and one blue devil. The devil is by far the meanest. The stripes school together and the domino is a loner, but won't back down from the devil. Had I known about their agressiveness, I might have chosen different fish.

05/29/2009, 09:42 PM	#9
H.Veras Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 1,024	i had two blue damsels and i won't ever again buy them... lil devils they almost killed each other, plus i had to remove all my rock to take them out.... wanna know what i did to them hahhahah i gave it to a shard in the LFS. i would get the blue/green chromis... __________________ 90g tech series. Current Tank Info: 90g tech series