Keep Cycling Damsels and add New Fish?

[neofish1906]

I'm currently cycling my 70 gallon tank with 2 Blue Damsels, 1 Yellowtail Damsel, and 1 Blackmouth Damsel. I really don't want to get rid of these fish when the cycling process is over because I like them. Therefore, I want to add a Yellow Tang and a Blue Tang, and maybe a Copperband Butterflyfish to the family. I looked at a compatibility chart and these fish are all compatible.:read:

Is this wise?

[USCavalry19d]

Damsels get Very aggressive when they become adults. The yellow tang would be able to handle it due to being semi-aggressive, however, the blue tang and copperbanded butterfly wouldn't. Also it is best to add a copperbanded butterfly to an established tank since they prefer pristine water. The copperbanded butterfly really isnt a good buy for someone just starting out in the hobby. Hope this helps

[Germanman]

i would nix the damsels...in 5 moths to a year they will make a war zone in there...switch to chromis maybe they are much nicer when they get older. and dont always trust compatibility charts either.

[neofish1906]

Does it matter if the Tangs or Butterflyfish are much larger than the Damsels?

[Germanman]

that would probally be better for the tangs...keep in mind tangs and b-flys get sick easily and that most b-flys will eat corals, featherdusters and pick at clams.

[5xevy]

Copperbands can be really difficult to feed and should be kept in aquariums that aren't so new and with excellent water conditions. If you do a search on this site you'll see some of the difficulties others have faced with them.

By blue tang, do you mean the Regal?

Damsels are generally territorial and not very predictable so it's hard to predict whether they'll pick on the other fish or not.

[Neofish2]

My tank finished cycling last week and all is well. I added a medium size Yellow Tang, and a small Picasso Triggerfish using an extended float method, adding 1/4 cups of my tank water to the bag every 10 minutes. The fish were released and so far so good. The cycling Damsels have been put in their place by the 2 new tankmates and only chase each other around. The main bully was the Blackmouth Chromis, which now totally leaves the Tang and Trigger alone. I added some Seaweed laced with Garlic Extreme to entice the Tang and he's even better and exploring more of the tank. I also noticed that the Picasso likes to swim with the Tang at times. . . I'm going to leave the tank as is for awhile. I want to add one more fish, maybe a Volitan Lionfish, but I'm not sure.

Any suggestions?

[Grins]

I'm not add a volitan to a 70g tank, I'd give them more room. I'd also start QTing your fish.

[Subliminal]

Don't worry...with that trigger in there, over time, the issue will probably take care of itself. ;)

[Dwarf Puffers]

Why did you cycle with live fish, especially in SW? Won't the trigger become very agressive?

[TKOS]

I think you are stocked. Look at the adult sizes of those fish. Tangs get very large.

I also assume you don't want a reef?

[5xevy]

Hi Neofish- do you have any pics of the Picasso?


Don't worry...with that trigger in there, over time, the issue will probably take care of itself. ;)

Hahaha, so true!

[USCavalry19d]

yeah umm i hate to say this but with that Picasso Triggerfish your probably going to be down to umm just that one fish in no time. Not trying to be mean but triggers are not a good choice of fish to put with damsels or chromis since they can become dinner for the trigger. Honestly if you plan on keeping any fish smaller than i would say 3-4 inches get rid of the trigger.

[neofish1906]

I don't have any pics of my Picasso or any of my SW fish yet. At this point the Picasso is the same size as 3 of the Damsels. The Yellow Tang is 2 1/2 times bigger than the Picasso. I'm aware that the Picasso will get bigger, as well as the Yellow Tang. I may remove the Damsels to avoid later casualties later, but I may not. . .

The Damsels were used for cycling not the Picasso and Tang, as someone assumed in an earlier thread.

Thanks for all of the input!

[oscillatewildly]

I would be interested to see how the picasso does because: (a) I am considering getting one as the main attraction for a future 90g+ FOWLR; and (b) I have heard mixed reviews on their compatibility. Some people and books say that picasso triggers (along with a few other trigger species) can get along with other fish that are semi-aggressive or aggressive as long as both fish have their space. Other sources say that any trigger is not suited for a community tank. I think fish, like any other type of animal, is entitled to a personality that allows them to get along with other fish or not. If your trigger is happy in the tank with the tang, more power to you and to him!

Personally, I never had much luck with damsels. The one I had left over from cycling became VERY aggressive and territorial when I added tankmates. He became so stressed out he died before I could move him out of the tank. So it goes.

[missc4]

I have a Picasso trigger with chromes and maroon clown babies as wel as snails and crabs and he doesn't bother a thing..There is even a CC sea star in my tank that likes to sit on the algae feeding clip and when my picasso wonts a bite off the clip he nudges my CC and the CC will lift his leg and let him eat..My tangs and foxface do the same thing,,
As he gets older he can get aggressive so I may have to do something about him later but as long as he stays sweet he stays..I would recommend no live foods to you picasso,I have heard that makes them more aggressive.
I think the rule of thumb that triggers are aggressive and some of the others things about other fish,are true to a point but it doesn't or shouldn't apply to all fish,,just like us they are all different in personality and temperament.