Four stripe damsel for 15 gallon sexy shrimp tank?

[Flatearth]

I am thinking of making a 15 gallon sexy shrimp tank.

So I far I know I want:

1. a group of sexy shrimp
2. 2 or 3 rock flower anemones,
3. Either a yasha goby+candy cane pistol or a couple different little gobies like the citron and green banded.
4. Easy soft corals like Kenyan tree and mushrooms. Will be a lower tech tank.

This should leave me with plenty of room for a fish in the water column.

I don't want any fish that I already have in my other tanks so no red firefish, yellow tail damsel, azure damsel, or clownfish.

What I would love is a 4 stripe damsel. They are in my opinion one of the cutest fish in the hobby, but I know they will fight other mid-water fish so I never bought one. They seem to have a lot of personality at the fish store so I would really like to make this fish work. I was hoping that they wouldn't bother bottom dwelling gobies or sexy shrimp?

If a 4 stripe won't work does anyone have suggestions on other high-personality mid/top dwelling fish that won't eat my sexy shrimp?

 

[tzabor10]

Long nose hawkfish

 

[VintageReefer]

Long nose hawkfish

These guys get big, 5”. My LFS has an adult one in their coral display and I was shocked because I didn’t know how big they got

I’m reading 30-40g is needed for them

 

[VintageReefer]

I am thinking of making a 15 gallon sexy shrimp tank.

So I far I know I want:

1. a group of sexy shrimp
2. 2 or 3 rock flower anemones,
3. Either a yasha goby+candy cane pistol or a couple different little gobies like the citron and green banded.
4. Easy soft corals like Kenyan tree and mushrooms. Will be a lower tech tank.

This should leave me with plenty of room for a fish in the water column.

I don't want any fish that I already have in my other tanks so no red firefish, yellow tail damsel, azure damsel, or clownfish.

What I would love is a 4 stripe damsel. They are in my opinion one of the cutest fish in the hobby, but I know they will fight other mid-water fish so I never bought one. They seem to have a lot of personality at the fish store so I would really like to make this fish work. I was hoping that they wouldn't bother bottom dwelling gobies or sexy shrimp?

If a 4 stripe won't work does anyone have suggestions on other high-personality mid/top dwelling fish that won't eat my sexy shrimp?

If you get sexy shrimp do not plan on adding zoanthids, torch, hammer etc

 

[moretor1]

If you get sexy shrimp do not plan on adding zoanthids, torch, hammer etc

If your sexy shrimp are eating your corals then they are most likely starving

 

[VintageReefer]

Feeding didn’t matter. They would eat target fed brine and flake and a hour later start picking on zoanthids

I’d feed them 2-3x a day, and caught them at night picking on zoanthids and torches

My torches and zoanthids became receded and appeared dying, they stopped opening in the day time and would continue to get picked on. The shrimp would use their little needle hands and pick inside the center hole of closed up zoanthids or at the base of euphyllia.

After almost 2 weeks of the corals not opening and their appearance declining I took the 2 shrimp out and the next day they started opening again and within a week I could see recovery beginning. Since the shrimp were removed I never had the issue again

I searched the forum and this has happened to many people and it’s a huge risk with them

 

[moretor1]

Feeding didn’t matter. They would eat target fed brine and flake and a hour later start picking on zoanthids

I’d feed them 2-3x a day, and caught them at night picking on zoanthids and torches

My torches and zoanthids became receded and appeared dying, they stopped opening in the day time and would continue to get picked on. The shrimp would use their little needle hands and pick inside the center hole of closed up zoanthids or at the base of euphyllia.

I took the 2 shrimp out and the next day they started opening again and within a week I could see recovery beginning. Since the shrimp were removed I never had the issue again

I searched the forum and this has happened to many people and it’s a huge risk with them

Imo with most crustaceans constantly having some food inside the tank for them to eat will prevent incidental predation

I like hikari sinking pellets as my shrimp will ignore my corals food to go for the crab cuisine

 

[VintageReefer]

Imo with most crustaceans constantly having some food inside the tank for them to eat will prevent incidental predation

I like hikari sinking pellets as my shrimp will ignore my corals food to go for the crab cuisine

Hard to do in nano and pico tanks. But I do have constant film and stuff to eat. My hermits graze and pick at the rock and sand all day and have no interest in the corals. I don’t even have to target feed them. These shrimp ate coral like they were programmed to do it. It was crazy I’d watch them eat food I gave them and then sometimes they would go right back to eating corals.

 

[Flatearth]

Long nose hawkfish

These sometimes each skunk cleaner shrimp, a sexy shrimp which is only about an inch long stands no chance. All hawkfish are out of the question, and they aren't upper/mid-level swimmers to begin with so not what I am looking for.

If you get sexy shrimp do not plan on adding zoanthids, torch, hammer etc

I am aware about potential zoa problems, much of my coral will come out of my other tanks(where zoa are invasive) so if the zoa's get eaten a bit that is okay I just won't add more.


Anyway does anyone have thoughts about my actual question regarding the four stripe damsel or suggestions for mid/upper level fish.

 

[VintageReefer]

The 4 stripe damsel is a beautiful fish but it may be aggressive to a goby

Another damsel I would suggest is the black and gold damsel, my LFS had these and I was really impressed with how vibrant they were in person. These were in mid to upper waters of the display tanks

 

[Flatearth]

The 4 stripe damsel is a beautiful fish but it may be aggressive to a goby

Another damsel I would suggest is the black and gold damsel, my LFS had these and I was really impressed with how vibrant they were in person. These were in mid to upper waters of the display tanks

I love those but I have never seen one for sale! Looks like no one is selling them online currently either, so maybe this fish is out of season?

 

[VintageReefer]

I’ve never been big on damsels so I don’t “follow the market” but I saw these at a LFS a month ago and honestly was really impressed with them. I don’t know why, but they really jumped out to me and maybe it’s because they aren’t commonly sold?

 

[VintageReefer]

I love those but I have never seen one for sale! Looks like no one is selling them online currently either, so maybe this fish is out of season?

I have found only one place with them

Black and Gold Chromis

Neoglyphidodon nigroris Reef Compatible - Yes Care Level - Beginner Disposition - Semi-aggressive Min. Tank Size - 30 gallons Mature Size - 5 inches

www.violetaquarium.com

Reviews

Violet Aquarium, anyone used them?

Anyone used these guys before? What was your experience? Looking at them for a wrasse currently!

www.reef2reef.com

 

[littlefoxx]

I love those but I have never seen one for sale! Looks like no one is selling them online currently either, so maybe this fish is out of season?

DO NOT GET THOSE. This is my most aggressive damsel and they get big and change color to a dull brown with black on the face. Avoid. They are also are known as scar face damsels.

 

[littlefoxx]

I’ve never been big on damsels so I don’t “follow the market” but I saw these at a LFS a month ago and honestly was really impressed with them. I don’t know why, but they really jumped out to me and maybe it’s because they aren’t commonly sold?

Avoid. I have one, they get big, mean and dont keep that color or pattern. They turn poop brown with a little yellow on the tail and a black face. Ugly fish, personality and looks

 

[littlefoxx]

This is mine: his name is Troll and all my fish hate him. Got a few of these by mistake (3) and this MF killed them all in a week and then changed into this ugly butt fish… takes about a month for them to lose the beautiful gold and black stripe.

 

[VintageReefer]

This is mine: his name is Troll and all my fish hate him. Got a few of these by mistake (3) and this MF killed them all in a week and then changed into this ugly butt fish… takes about a month for them to lose the beautiful gold and black stripe.

Nooooooooo they turn into that?!?!

 

[littlefoxx]

Nooooooooo they turn into that?!?!

Yep! And fast. I thought I scored when I got them accidentally with my green chromis but was very quickly disappointed. Crabby fish too, always chasing others around.

 

[littlefoxx]

As for the original question, sexy shrimp need to be in a species tank otherwise they most likely will get eaten by any fish. Especially a hawkfish, they would be devoured in a heartbeat. I think the damsel might eat them too. My two damsels eat anything

 

[Flatearth]

This is mine: his name is Troll and all my fish hate him. Got a few of these by mistake (3) and this MF killed them all in a week and then changed into this ugly butt fish… takes about a month for them to lose the beautiful gold and black stripe.

Wow I think it is really cute with this color, I do like the 4 four a better though.