Damsels With Dwarf Lionfish And One Spot Foxface

[TRAILRIDER]

If damsels are big enough that they don't become lionfish food would they be good tank mates? I am less concerned with the damsels being eaten than I am with the damsels stressing out the other two fish. Would damsels torment venomous fish like a foxface or dwarf lion? I prefer YT blue damsels, but if damsels might survive and not be a bother to the bigger fish, would some other damsels be a better choice?

I would like to start with a small school of damsels and after a couple of weeks add the two other fish. is this a good idea? (If I wasn't adding venomous fish I would add the damsels last instead of first.)

 

[ValerieAdams]

stella1979 Culprit Jesterrace

 

[coralbandit]

Can't say how they will act damsels are known as devil fish !
Look into Beaugregory damsels if you can find them. They are one of the more colorful damsels.
I don't think they would bother the fox face and I would think they should recognize a lion fish ?

 

[stella1979]

Hmmm, idk. I've never had experience with any of these fish, though I LOVE a FoxFace and have seen evidence of them coexisting in community tanks. coralbandit 's advice sounds good to me.

 

[Jesterrace]

Damsels by nature are jerks (similar to most dottybacks), so I won't ever put them in my tanks. While it is true that they will be less likely to bother a venomous fish, they are known to go after and torment fish much larger than themselves. I would definitely say adding them first would be a mistake as they get ultra territorial, and a school of them would essentially create a "devil's cauldron" of a tank. I would definitely skip them, also what size is your tank? A dwarf lion needs around 50 gallons minimum and even the One Spot Foxface (the smallest of the bunch) needs a bare minimum of a 75 gallon to be happy long term and it really should have more space. I have a One Spot in my 90 gallon and it is definitely a fun and personable fish to have (albeit skittish). If you have a big enough tank there are so many other fish that would be better choices (ie Wrasses, a Dwarf Angel).