Damsel aggression

[Phantom7]

Hello! I bought 4 bicolor damsels from my LFS recently, and the other day 2 of them died I believe from aggression. I separated the ‘king damsel’ and no other fish has died since and they all seem happier. I am unable to return them, and was curious what to do with him, or if there’s any way i could mitigate his severe aggression.

current stock
1 yellow tail damsel
1 bicolor damsel
1 fairy wrasse
1 fox face
1 royal gramma
fish that also need to go in this tank after they’re done qt
2 percula clownfish
1 splendid dotty back
4 more yellow tails.

 

[Bucs20fan]

How large is your tank? You have several fish that all desire the same rock work and all of which have mean tempers.

 

[D3DPrintedThingz]

Hopefully you have big tank. :) Look into dotty back temperament they’re pretty mean too.

 

[Phantom7]

How large is your tank? You have several fish that all desire the same rock work and all of which have mean tempers.

it's a 120 6x2x2

 

[Bucs20fan]

Thats alot of damsels, the dottyback and the gramma area all going to have to establish a pecking order. Not to mention if the clowns pair up, they will establish a territory and violently defend it.

 

[Phantom7]

Hopefully you have big tank. :) Look into dotty back temperament they’re pretty mean too.

it's a 120 6x2x2, the fish that need to be added i've had for probably a year and a half now and the dotty back hasn't given any aggression

 

[Bucs20fan]

To minimize aggression, increase flow in the tank. How much rockwork do you have 50-60 lbs or 80lbs +?

 

[Bucs20fan]

it's a 120 6x2x2, the fish that need to be added i've had for probably a year and a half now and the dotty back hasn't given any aggression

Everytime we add new fish to our tanks, the aggression can be reset, and start all over again. You just need to have the proper environment to minimize it and accept that you will have losses in some cases.

 

[Phantom7]

Thats alot of damsels, the dottyback and the gramma area all going to have to establish a pecking order. Not to mention if the clowns pair up, they will establish a territory and violently defend it.

the blue damsels i've had for a while and at first they were rude but now they're all 'friends', i'm wondering if i add them all together if they will split the aggression up or if that one will just go on a spree.

 

[Bucs20fan]

Its always a gamble with damsels. The typical ways you can reset aggression is redoing your aquascape, which is much easier in freshwater versus saltwater.

 

[Phantom7]

To minimize aggression, increase flow in the tank. How much rockwork do you have 50-60 lbs or 80lbs +

The flow right now is on the higher end, i have a jebao 13000dcp (3645GPH) the rock work isn't so great, but whenever i add the other fish all their rocks are coming with which will be enough to 'fill' it up nicely.

 

[Phantom7]

Its always a gamble with damsels. The typical ways you can reset aggression is redoing your aquascape, which is much easier in freshwater versus saltwater.

i removed his home, but i also removed him with it lol, do you think i should put him back in and see what happens, and just remove him again if he becomes the 'king damsel' again?

 

[Bucs20fan]

Are the other fish you are adding in QT with the rocks?

 

[Phantom7]

Are the other fish you are adding in QT with the rocks?

so it's a weird thing, the fish in the display are actually the ones qt. the other fish are in a 60 gallon on the floor because their dt leaked a while back, and this new tank is their replacement. i just started/finished the cycle with a load of bioballs, a few live rocks, and that single yellow tail. the 60 gallon on the floor is like quarter of the way full with live rock from their old 120.

 

[Bucs20fan]

So what I’m asking is the fish in qt in the new display, are you treating them with anything?

 

[Phantom7]

So what I’m asking is the fish in qt in the new display, are you treating them with anything?

No

 

[Bucs20fan]

Ok, so it’s more of an observation period versus a qt so to speak. I just didn’t want you to add rocks that had been in a treatment tank to your display tank because they can leech copper and such for a long time.

 

[Tcook]

6x2x2, if those are the correct dimensions, is a 150. A 120 is 4x2x2. I had 1 Starcki in my 120 and he had a bit of an attitude. I couldn't imagine housing multiple aggressive damsels. Did the lfs tell you that these would get more aggressive over time? If not then they should take them back.

 

[Phantom7]

Ok, so it’s more of an observation period versus a qt so to speak. I just didn’t want you to add rocks that had been in a treatment tank to your display tank because they can leech copper and such for a long time.

Yeah, sorry. just making sure nothing shows up on them. and thank you for that, now i know if i ever use copper.

 

[nereefpat]

it's a 120 6x2x2

6x2x2, if those are the correct dimensions, is a 150. A 120 is 4x2x2.

6x2x2 is a standard 180 gallon.

6 x 2 x 2 x 7.48 gallons/cubic foot.