Adding more Damsels

msujohn · Jun 10, 2020

I have a 90 gallon mixed reef With the following fish currently;
- 2 clowns
- 3 pj cardinals
- melanurus wrasse
- dwarf flame angel
- royal gramma
- azure damsel

I would like to add more damsels. I'm thinking of adding both Azure and Talbot's (trying to add some more activity and color into the tank). Should I add 1 Azure and 2 Talbot's? Or should I just stay with Azure's? If so, how many can/should I add.

Webslinger · Jun 10, 2020

Go with the Sapphire Damsel fish. No aggression at all. Both the Azure and talbot become aggressive as they mature.

msujohn · Jun 10, 2020

My preference is to stick with Azure's and Talbot's at this point. I'm trying to figure out how many of each to add. I already have 1 established Azure in the tank. So not sure, if it's better to have a trio of each type or just a pair of each or should I stick with just azure's?

jsvand5 · Jun 10, 2020

I have both in my 90 and they ignore each other. I did add mine at the same time though. Been together for about 3 years at this point.

msujohn · Jun 10, 2020

How many of each do you have?

Webslinger · Jun 10, 2020

Let the war begin...Haha

jsvand5 · Jun 10, 2020

msujohn said:
How many of each do you have?

In my 90 I have 2 of each. In my 210 I have 7 azures and 5 Talbots

msujohn · Jun 10, 2020

jsvand5 said:
In my 90 I have 2 of each. In my 210 I have 7 azures and 5 Talbots

In your 90, do the pairs hang out together or do they have separate area's they defend?

jsvand5 · Jun 10, 2020

They stay loosely together. Both spawn regularly

Big G · Jun 10, 2020

Webslinger said:
Go with the Sapphire Damsel fish. No aggression at all. Both the Azure and talbot become aggressive as they mature.

This ^^^ exactly. Have a nice little school of Sapphires in my 90. Brilliant blue and good citizens.

msujohn · Jun 10, 2020

Big G said:
This ^^^ exactly. Have a nice little school of Sapphires in my 90. Brilliant blue and good citizens.

Everything that I have read has told me that Azures/Talbots/Sapphires all have the same temperament. I really like the contrast of colors on the Azure.

Big G · Jun 10, 2020

Azures can get a bit pushy when they get older. So a lot also depends on tank size and fish load.

Webslinger · Jun 10, 2020

msujohn said:
Everything that I have read has told me that Azures/Talbots/Sapphires all have the same temperament. I really like the contrast of colors on the Azure.

They are both semi-aggressive which increases with age. The sapphire are peaceful and a great looking fish. It's the only damsel except maybe a green chromis I would ever put in a tank

msujohn · Jun 10, 2020

Webslinger said:
They are both semi-aggressive which increases with age. The sapphire are peaceful and a great looking fish. It's the only damsel except maybe a green chromis I would ever put in a tank

I've had my 1 Azure for about 2 1/2 years so far and haven't noticed any aggression at all. Maybe, I have been lucky. But with my Dwarf Angel and Melanurus anything I add must be able to stand up to them. They both rule the tank at this point. (My Royal Gramma hides because of them).

Webslinger · Jun 10, 2020

Probably why your RG is hiding. They seek the same type of shelter. None of my fish hide especially my RG. Flame angel and coris wrasse dont bug him at all? My Damsel and RG hang out together mostly

mattzang · Jun 10, 2020

whatever you add, and the bigger tank matters here, i'd add more than the number you currently have. so if you have 1 azure, i'd add 2 springers. i tried adding 1 azure to an established (and what i thought was really timid springer) and the springer was going to kill it within about an hour, it was super tore up. luckily the azure was so done i just netted him and put him in the sump where he recovered.