Neptune Aquatics

Fish regret .. evil damsel

newfly

Supporting Member
I should not have gotten the Azure Damselfish. Beautiful fish, and i thought they are the least aggressive as far as damsel goes.

I bought 3. 2 team up and beat up the 3rd. I have to rescue the beaten up damsel and put it in my old 15g setup. He is recovering, and started to eat.

The pair now picking on the chromis. I see some tear in the tail fin. the chromis is almost 2x the size of the azure.

All this is happening in the the Qt tank. I have not introduce these 2 evil fishes in the DT. I'm unsure if i want to do it or now. Since the DT is much bigger than the Qt, and plenty of rocks, the picking may subside, or who knows.

Any advise? the other tankates with the azrure includes

6 chromis
1 neon dottyback
2 clowns
1 kole tang (on order)

The azure try to nip the dottyback and it is very satisfying to see the dotty chase the azure for like 5 mins! The dotty is quite mellow and i don't see it attacks unprovoked.
 
I'm an outlier here, because I like damsels :eek:

How big is your QT tank? Territorial fish can get a little extra worked up in a small space with lots of tank mates. I had azure's with chromis for quite a while, and my large chromis held his own against them with no issue. Order of addition to the DT will be very important; tang, clowns and chromis go first, give them a week or so, damsels and dottyback go last.

But... they are fish, with their own personalities, and what works for some, doesn't work for others. There is for sure an element of risk of aggression, as with any fish. My main concern would be future additions could be challenging if they are on the small side.

I currently have my azures with a pair of maroon clowns, a lemonpeel angel and a springers dottyback. The damsels are the lowest rung of the aggression ladder.
Damsels and angel.jpg
 
I'm an outlier here, because I like damsels :eek:

How big is your QT tank? Territorial fish can get a little extra worked up in a small space with lots of tank mates. I had azure's with chromis for quite a while, and my large chromis held his own against them with no issue. Order of addition to the DT will be very important; tang, clowns and chromis go first, give them a week or so, damsels and dottyback go last.

But... they are fish, with their own personalities, and what works for some, doesn't work for others. There is for sure an element of risk of aggression, as with any fish. My main concern would be future additions could be challenging if they are on the small side.

I currently have my azures with a pair of maroon clowns, a lemonpeel angel and a springers dottyback. The damsels are the lowest rung of the aggression ladder.
View attachment 24409

My QT is not very big 13G. I have 2 chromis , 2 azure and 1 neon in the QT. 2 more weeks and i can transfer them to the DT (65G)

I can hold the azure and dottyback in the QT longer and introduce the chromis first.
 
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