Azure Damselfish Help

[Tom800]

I have a 180 gallon reef tank. I had five Azure damsel fish in my tank for a long time. I lost four out of the five damsel fish due to an ich outbreak. Anyway, I’ve ordered six new azure damsel Fish. I got two of them before I got the next four.

I put both into my tank and the one Azul damsel Fish, who survived, killed them both in two days. Next week I plan on putting four of them in. I don’t get what I could do any differently, I can’t catch the old damsel fish in my reef tank. everything I read tells me I shouldn’t be having any issues with these Fish and large numbers and I had five for a long time without any issues. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I’m just assuming that when I put four in, it will be better because it’s a larger number. It’s also a huge tank for a damsel fish, so I am surprised that this one damsel Fish went on a seek and destroy mission for these two.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IDK, I'm not so surprised, they are vicious fish. Most of us also can't sex them, so maybe your adding a bunch of males, and thats bad in the animal kingdom no matter what fish or animal.

 

[Tom800]

Update:
The day came today and all four damsels were put in. Yes, the original one still tried nipping at them, but all four new ones are now grouped together in the high corner of the tank. So I’m hoping they’re strength numbers and they all get used to each other and they eventually come down to the reef rocks.

 

[Tom800]

So it’s been about 8 hours since I got the fish. The original killed one, but the other three are not hiding in the high corner anymore and the original does come and say hi every once in a while but then leaves them alone. I’m wondering if this is a gender thing like someone pointed out. Maybe the fish has killed the same gender as it. Another observation I’ve made is that my blue green chromos damsel fish chased around the other two dams that were killed last time, but they are not chasing these ones around, maybe it’s a gender thing.

 

[Tom800]

Update: I guess there is strength in numbers. I added three more damsels and the the original fish did not kill any of them. In fact, all of the new damsels (5) that I have added are now all group together and the original damsel comes by every now and then to the group says “hi” and then goes about his business.