Best choice for a colorful school of fish?

[MountainReefs]

This is a fish (not a coral) question. I hope some of you Reef Talk folks also have experience with "fish only" systems. My 155 gallon bowfront fish (with a lot of live rock) system needs some color and some activity. My hope is to provide it by way of a "bunch" of schooling fish. I'm not concerned about bio-load as the system is several years old and extremely stable. More bio-filtration can always be added if needed. Current inhabitants are: medium sized yellow tang, sailfin tang, moon wrasse, humu-humu, flame angel, & scotter blenny. I have pretty much ruled out Anthias because of their timid nature (especially when it comes to feeding) and tendency to pick at the low fish on the totem pole until all are hiding and starving to death. The same seems to be pretty much the case for Blue and Green-blue Chromis. So, I'm thinking about a fairly large (8-12) bunch of blue or yellow-tailed damsels. I really like the idea of adding a good bit of blue to the tank too. I'm well aware of their tendency to exhibit an unpleasant disposition, but hope that the tank size, large amount of hiding places, and nature of my existing fish will keep them in check. Some say they will "school" and some say they won't. Any experience with that? What about compatibility issues? The tank is extremely well balanced at present in terms of compatibility, and I certainly don't want to upset that with such an addition. Any other ideas?

[Chuck S]

Some Damsels can be very colorful and whether they school or not is a question of much debate. I would not worry about them being kept in check as Damsels will find a territory and defend it to death. They can be extremely territorial. They are very interesting though to watch.

Here are a few good choices on Damsels other than the traditional Blue Damsel.

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20030406080721/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/p_90089.jpg

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20030320004012/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/pw_bluefin_damel.jpg

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20030320004012/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/pw_70405talbots_dasmel.jpg

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20030320004012/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/pw_70327orangetailblue_dams.jpg

[RayPollett]

My experience with yellow tail blue damsels is they do not school. They each fine their own territory. I have them in tanks from 70 to 180 gallons.

Ray

[tendar]

The yellow tail damsels dont school. I friend put about 10 in his 150 and they each staked out a piece of territory in the tank so they are spread out all over it in thier little area.
A small school of flame wrasses or scott's fairly wrasse would be nice but they dont school but make a harem with one male and several females.

[bnmbrian]

I have found that as far as damsels go the Yellow Tailed Blues are less aggressive than others, but obviously more aggressive than a school of Green Chromis would be. Don't think that the YTB damsels would school. Good luck!!

Brian

[Katspaw]

I have four different types of damsels in my 255 gallon tank. 2-Three stripe,1- domino,1- yellow tail, and 3-electric blue. I had more in the beginning, but they tend to be jumpers. The most aggressive is the domino, And I wouldn't put them into a system again. They don't belong to me, they are a friends that I have been holding for over a year now. He is going to have fun removing them from my tank too. So far I have never see these fish school, I have watched them fight quite often though.

Tracey

[MountainReefs]

Thanks for your comments everyone. You were all very helpful. Although I may go ahead with 1 or 2 damsels for color, I will definately stay away from getting a herd of them. Ten or twelve separate staked-out territories would certainly defeat my purpose. I guess I'll keep looking (and asking). The flame wrasses are an interesting idea. I love the Scott's fairy wrasse, but I'm concerned about their mild manner given the nature of my existing community - just like I was over using an Anthias harem.

[Mojoreef]

Hey Mountain reefs I have a large school of anthias in my tank (about 11) and when feeding time comes around they are the first in line. Antoher option I went with was a school of Heneochus (banner fish) they really stick together and make for quite a display when schooling around the tank.

take care

mike

[maximak2]

The best fish for schooling are the green chromis, I haven't had any luck with any other damsels.