Jermaine Watson

I'm a SW newbie, and need some advice.

Being the first fish in my tank, how many damsel fish should i buy to start out with?

Should i buy by the shoal?

Is it okay to mix one species of damsel fish with another?

Are they reef-safe?

cerianthus

I guess 55G tank? Have you ran any tests since setting up? Trying to figure out if ready for fish.

Why damsels?
Damsels do better in groups and can be mixed with certain types (Have kept Domino, Striped, Devil, Y/t Bules and even chromis together but ONLY in great numbers). I feel that when kept in number, less aggression towards just one individual.

But there are other fish available that you can keep w/ or w/o Damsels to start off provided that your tank is well established biologically (cycled).
16 LB of LR is better than nothing but should have more so LR will be primary biofilter thus can handle more bioload w/o mechanical equipments and it['s more natural than artificial deco, IMO.

Jermaine Watson

damsel fish coome in a respectable variety.

and there small allowing lots of them, given its my first sw tank.

au01st

If you want the small schooling fish, go with blue/green chromis over damsels. Chromis are in the same family, but are not as aggressive. Damsels will become the terrors of the tank if they're left in, and they're almost impossible to catch.

I have 3 in my 75, and I call them the 3 amigos, as they swim around with each other and dart in and out of the rocks.

fishrule101

I wouldn't go with damsels. They were one of my first fish and they woudn't let any other fish live safely.

Jermaine Watson

THANKS FOR THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION.

Jermaine Watson

Thanks I Hate Tryin To Catch Fish And I Hate When Fish Are A Problem In The Tank.

Jermaine Watson

Thanks guys for your help i should be able to make better decisions now.

Matt

Clownfish are good beginner fish.

Clownfish are really hardy and very entertaining aswell as to keep if kept in the right conditions

-Matt

Jermaine Watson

Yeah, my dad says that i have to raise damsel fish or chromis' (cheaper) for 6 months, before i can have anything fancy like that.
But i do want to get some clownfishes later down the line.

au01st

If you want a loophole, technically clownfish are damselfish.

Jermaine Watson

What!

Thats cool!

My dad will like that one.

Thanks!