Min Tank size for 2 damsels???

[dhughesz28]

I’m thinking about moving my two yellow tail damsels out of my main tank because I think they are stressing out my tang. I was wondering what the absolute minimum tank size that could accommodate these comfortably, with maybe a small crabs and snails cleanup crew. I really like the Eclipse 12 that marine land puts out, I was thinking of putting them in that. What do you all think??

 

[jon321]

i wouldnt go less than 20-30g for two, and even in that there is like 100% chance one will be killed sooner or later, but a 12 with like 20lbs lr might be suitable for a little while, and would certianly accomodate 1 after the other is killed
Jon

 

[kaotik]

IMO...As long as you only put those two fish in there and dont overcrowd with LR, a 12 should be fine.

 

[dhughesz28]

Thetwo damsels will be the only guys in the 12 gal besides mabye a small cleaner crew. In a system this small is LR and LS critical?. I was thinking of a few inches of LS and about 10lb LR. What do you think?

 

[kaotik]

That sounds fine. it would help speed your cycle process if you actually took some sand, rock and water from your main tank and added it to the small one. im sure you already know this, but keeping your water in good condition is a lot more critical in such a small tank.

 

[bobothewizard]

5 gal

 

[osufarker]

My grandfather kept 2 damsels in a 10g with and UGF for years. He probably did a water change once every six months. Damsels are hard to kill.

 

[ophiura]

Damsels in general are "hard to kill" but it is not hard for them to kill each other. I had 1 damsel in a 15g and it attacked me. So I would say a 12g would probably be OK, but there is a risk that one would kill the other, especially if they already seem on the aggressive side.

 

[55gsw]

While it is certainly possible that ANY fish will be more or less aggressive than is normal for that species, yellow tailed damsels are known to be fairly docile (compared to other more aggressive damsels) and actually prefer to live in colonies. In a 12g you really shouldn't have any problems with them.
Why do you think they are stressing your tang? What kind of tang is it, and was it placed in there after the damsels? How big is your main tank?

 

[xnikki118x]

IMO a 12 gallon should be fine. I must commend you also for wanting to acccomodate your damsels unstead of just flushing them, like many other people would have. Sure they can be aggressive and a pain in the ass, but they're beautiful, too!

 

[dhughesz28]

Thanks xnikki118x :joy: , Lots of people have been telling me to just bring them back to the LFS, But besides the fact that they are terrors to my tang, they are probably the coolest looking fish to me, blue being my favorite color and all. Besides, these fish are my first, have had them for a year, I can't abandon them now! I’m looking forward to setting up a small tank for them. I bought the Eclipse 12 tank kit last weekend, I’m in the process of getting some salt water ready for the tank, and this weekend Ill be setting up the tank with 3” LS and 10lb LR.
Is it true that Damsels do better in Odd numbers? To keep one from picking on another?
:happyfish

 

[wax32]

Yup. One is an odd number.

 

[wax32]

But seriously, yes in general you should keep odd numbers... but not in a 12.

 

[dhughesz28]

so will 3 damsels max be overcrowding a 12?

 

[dhughesz28]

what would you recomend for a cleanup crew for a 12 gal? I was thinking 4 crabs and 4 snails

 

[nanoreef]

10g is fine :yes:

 

[dhughesz28]

bump

 

[55gsw]

Hermit crabs are nice and four sounds pretty good. What kind of snails? The large turbos would probably go hungry in there, maybe some astreas? What about nassarius snails to help with the sandbed? Have you thought of adding a shrimp to the mix? Skunk cleaners are really nice, friendly too. :yes:

 

[dhughesz28]

55gSW, I was thinking I would stick to smaller inverts, your right, I wouldn’t want them to go hungry. I was thinking about bumble and or margarita snails. and 4 or 5 red or blue leg hermits. As far as the shrimp, I would like to have a few, but the damsels are really b@$t@rds. They dive-bomb anything that moves. That’s why I’m getting them out of my main tank, but now that you mention it, Ill be able to have shrimp in my main tank now!!