Peaceful Damselfish recommendations/advice

[Cantusaurus]

I have a 32 gallon long tank. It has been up for over 2 years. I moved my clownfish to another tank almost 2 months ago, and I wanted to add some fish that are out a lot.
I currently have two chalk bass that are well established, a possum wrasse, red head goby, and starry blenny. I want to add a couple colorful fish that are always out.
I do not have damsel experience, but I help service aquariums and most tanks I service have damsels. I hardly ever notice them being aggressive.
I mostly just don't want the damsels to bully my possum wrasse.
I really like the Talbot and Springeri Damsels. Both of those are my favorite. I saw the Talbots in person at the wholesaler, and they look incredible. I do not know why more people don't talk about them. I also really like the Blue Reef Chromis, but I'm not sure how aggressive they will be to each other in only a 32 gallon.

I know everyone has different experience, and all fish are different, in one client's tank we put a snowflake eel in there with a lot of small fish because he is the most mild mannered snowflake ever, and he is much bigger now and has not harmed a single fish (while I have seen and heard many stories of snowflakes being the worst and eating tons of fish).

Lastly, how many Damsels are able to be added (from an aggression prospective and not bioload)? And would 2 Talbots and 2 Springeris work? Or would they fight regardless of being different damsels.

 

[exnisstech]

I have a yellow banded possum wrasse and a Chalk bass in a reefer 170, 24x20x20 and I would never consider adding any type of damsel. I have damsels in a larger tank but the large tangs and trigger keep them in check. I would seriously reconsider adding any damsel to your 32 gallon already housing peaceful / shy fish like the Chalk bass and possum wrasse.

IMO there really is no such thing as a peaceful damsel, well the one living alone in my rock storage tank is peaceful so I guess I know of 1.

 

[Cantusaurus]

I have a yellow banded possum wrasse and a Chalk bass in a reefer 170, 24x20x20 and I would never consider adding any type of damsel. I have damsels in a larger tank but the large tangs and trigger keep them in check. I would seriously reconsider adding any damsel to your 32 gallon already housing peaceful / shy fish like the Chalk bass and possum wrasse.

IMO there really is no such thing as a peaceful damsel, well the one living alone in my rock storage tank is peaceful so I guess I know of 1.

Yeah, that's a fair stance. I was thinking that I might regret it. The reason I considered it was because I have 2 chalk bass and they're pretty bold and I feel they'd be able to put up with the Damsels and be in control. But I guess maybe it isn't worth the risk
Do you by chance have a royal gramma with the chalk basslets? I was considering adding a royal gramma but was not sure if the Chalk's would mess with him.
I'll probably add a firefish, and one or two other fish. Maybe a gramma if it'll work out.

Also do you know if the Blue Reef Chromis would work? I hear so many conflicting things about Chromis.

 

[adittam]

I have a trio of springeri damsels in my 80g lagoon DT and they’ve never bothered anyone. Got them because they are supposed to be peaceful, and that’s what I’ve found to be true for the 10 months or so that I’ve had them. Feel free to take a look at my build thread for some full tank videos that you can see them in.

 

[LeftyReefer]

I have a cyanea damsel and a springeri damsel.
The springeri is completely peaceful, the cyanea is mostly not.

 

[Cantusaurus]

I have a cyanea damsel and a springeri damsel.
The springeri is completely peaceful, the cyanea is mostly not.

What size tank are they in?

 

[LeftyReefer]

What size tank are they in?

40b

 

[Cantusaurus]

40b

Hmm. Yeah, that's not too much larger than my tank. Thanks for the input!

 

[Cantusaurus]

I have a trio of springeri damsels in my 80g lagoon DT and they’ve never bothered anyone. Got them because they are supposed to be peaceful, and that’s what I’ve found to be true for the 10 months or so that I’ve had them. Feel free to take a look at my build thread for some full tank videos that you can see them in.

I checked it out. Thanks! Yeah, I just worry since my tank is 32 gallons that there might be more scuffles taking place. I ideally would want to add 2, but i'm not sure if that will work.

 

[Gatorpa]

Never seen a Damsel that wasn’t a dick.

But I have not seen every Damsel out there, perhaps there is one somewhere.

 

[Miami Reef]

Never seen a Damsel that wasn’t a dick.

But I have not seen every Damsel out there, perhaps there is one somewhere.

Oof. I thought that word would have been censored on this forum lol.

 

[adittam]

I checked it out. Thanks! Yeah, I just worry since my tank is 32 gallons that there might be more scuffles taking place. I ideally would want to add 2, but i'm not sure if that will work.

I think adding one would be safer than 2. No chance of them pairing up and becoming territorial as a mated pair then.

 

[i cant think]

I wouldn’t add any damsels.. Infact I wouldn’t add anything else with the fish you have currently.
You’ve reached the maximum capacity of the tank already. Any newly added fish will have almost no territory left (Depending on rockscape but without an FTS we have to assume) so they may end up fighting with the others for territory.

 

[Coralreefer1]

Azure Damsels are a less aggressive damsel in my opinion.

 

[PeterEde]

I had a quiet happy tank with 2 clowns, 3 chromis, foxface, 6line wrasse, goby, mandarin. Then I added a 3 spot Domino and an Azure Damsel. My mistake was adding a small Azure last.
I believe the clowns put the 3 spot in its place but it harassed the Azure to death. I stuck the 3 spot in the sinbin a while. Have since added it back and things are ok.
I wish I didn't put the 3 spit in and just Azure.

 

[asydabass]

I’ve had a springeri damsel for almost two years. My specimen is completely peaceful, the low man on the totem pole. He hides out in the staghorn acropora colonies when the other fish chase him. I’ve also got a pair of starki damsels, each one in a different system. One is totally peaceful the other can be aggressive at times.

 

[Cantusaurus]

I wouldn’t add any damsels.. Infact I wouldn’t add anything else with the fish you have currently.
You’ve reached the maximum capacity of the tank already. Any newly added fish will have almost no territory left (Depending on rockscape but without an FTS we have to assume) so they may end up fighting with the others for territory.

I get what you’re saying. But I have a lot of territories in my tank. The chalk basslets are really the only “territorial type fish”.
I have a lot of places in the rock for fish to hide and make their areas. I mostly just want to add fish that will be out more, so any new fish should have enough territory.
I totally get that stance though. It puzzles me when I see people with minimalistic scapes and lot of fish and I wonder like how the fish interact since there are barely in hiding places.

 

[Cantusaurus]

I’ve had a springeri damsel for almost two years. My specimen is completely peaceful, the low man on the totem pole. He hides out in the staghorn acropora colonies when the other fish chase him. I’ve also got a pair of starki damsels, each one in a different system. One is totally peaceful the other can be aggressive at times.

Thanks! How big is your tank? I guess maybe adding a single springeri is the best option as far as aggression goes. I also really like the Starcki Damsels. I saw them on the wholesaler website and they are very cool.
I saw an article by reef builders and they talked about the Starcki and springeri, and said that getting 1 or 2 may be not enough and they may be aggressive to other fish, and that 3-5 is best, BUT then a bigger tank is needed.
i definitely think 3 damsels may be pushing it since they may not have enough territory. But I think 1 damsel should work and is worth a try

 

[asydabass]

Thanks! How big is your tank? I guess maybe adding a single springeri is the best option as far as aggression goes. I also really like the Starcki Damsels. I saw them on the wholesaler website and they are very cool.
I saw an article by reef builders and they talked about the Starcki and springeri, and said that getting 1 or 2 may be not enough and they may be aggressive to other fish, and that 3-5 is best, BUT then a bigger tank is needed.
i definitely think 3 damsels may be pushing it since they may not have enough territory. But I think 1 damsel should work and is worth a try

So it does sound like you may be pushing the upper limits as far as fish load goes. But I dont know your system, just what youve posted here.
I’ve had the Starcki and the springeri together in a 20 long for a while and they are now in a 4x2 aquarium and the relationship is the same. From time to time the Starcki also shows aggression towards my mystery wrasse. He leaves the tangs and fox face alone. My other Starcki was with a melanus wrasse, a convict tang and a foxface. He never messed with anyone, though he was the smallest fish in the tank. He is now only with the melanurus wrasse and they get along fine.

 

[doubleshot00]

Never seen a Damsel that wasn’t a dick.

But I have not seen every Damsel out there, perhaps there is one somewhere.

There is one in my lfs frag tank and i cant even pick out a frag with the stick without him hitting the stick and knocking it out of my hand. Has a jerk.