Yellow Tail Blue Damsels (1 Viewer)

[cnmarland]

I bought two Yellow Tail Damsels for my 55g. I already had 2 clowns and 1 Yellow Tang. Everything was fine with all the fish for about 3 days. The damsels swim around no problem. The yesterday my wife could only really see 1 of them. I looked around when I got home and both are still in the tank.

The strange thing is one of them now hides most of the time in the rock. When it comes out it has lost some of its deeper blue and is much paler. The other damsel also continually nips at it until it retreats back into the rock. It doesn't bother the other 3 fish who are quite harmonious together.

I was told by the LFS I got them at that they could live together. They seemed fine for 3-4 days then this. Are the compatible or is is a dominance phase that may pass when one has established dominance. I'm concerned because in a few week I would like to add a Dottyback/pseudochromis and don't want this to occur again.

Chris

 

[chriskb3]

Welcome to MARSH!

Personally, I think that your tank is overstocked, because of the yellow tang. Tangs require a substantial amount of food and swimming space, and a 55 gallon tank (especially with other inhabitants) will probably not sustain a small tang for long.

Damsels in general are quite aggressive, especially towards each other. It is likely that these two are trying to establish their dominance/territories over each other, and is quite possible that the stronger will kill the weaker one.

I also have 2 of the yellow tail damsels, though I attribute their "getting along" with the 180 gallons of territory to split. In a larger tank, their territories are much larger, and less likely to overlap, and they pretty much stay on each of their sides of the tank.

The only way the fish store can get away with having so many of them togerther in 1 small tank, is because the aggression between fish is so spread out (becuase there are more fish to pick on). Plus the fact that they are not ment to be in there for any extended amout of time. This does not mean that it is healthy for them though.

Also keep in mind, that pseudo chromis can become quite agressive as well. Check out www.liveaquaria.com to get some more info on fish before you decide to buy. You may even see some new fish that you like!

Good luck with the tank, and please dont hesitate to ask questions!

 

[mr_surfer_Dude]

i have a 12 gallon nano cube with as of now only 2 yellow tail damsels. these damsel are yes generaly less aggressive then other damsel but still aggressive. When i chose my fish i purposely picked three damsels 1 large and 2 small because GENERALY the smaller ones are female. I did this because i knew 2 would pair up and then push the other one out... I know this sounds bad but it did work and now i have a pair of damsels that dont fight....