Chromis killing!!!

[davocean]

After reading this thread, and the countless other similar ones displaying how chromis WILL kill each other when attempted to be kept in groups artficially, it kills me how often people continue to try to do so, and will recommend to other to try.

Actually over the years reading here I would say this is more of a 50/50 split.
Personally I don't get it w/ all the failures.
I've kept chromis almost always for the past 25 years, never had an issue.
I have 5 now going on a year, before this I had same 6 for 6 years that died from heater failure or I'd still have them.
I love having chromis, brings out shy fish, shoals w/ my anthias, adds awesome color to tank.
I don't claim absolute failure or success on these guys, wonder what it is that we are not seeing for such different experiences w/ them.
I also do not buy into any odd/even theories, I've had them both many times over the years.

 

[hybridazn]

I have found that with green chromis, no matter how many you got, they would always pick on the smallest/weakest until it would die, then they would start picking on the next smallest, ect...until there was only one or two left.

i had 3 green chromis and all seemed well for about 2 months. then one day i came home and the smallest of the three was beat up very badly, it eventually died in a couple days. at first i thought it might have been my flame angel, but the more i read up on these fish they always become aggressive towards the smaller of the group. the two that i have left leave eachother alone. they are about the same size

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Actually over the years reading here I would say this is more of a 50/50 split.
Personally I don't get it w/ all the failures.
I've kept chromis almost always for the past 25 years, never had an issue.
I have 5 now going on a year, before this I had same 6 for 6 years that died from heater failure or I'd still have them.
I love having chromis, brings out shy fish, shoals w/ my anthias, adds awesome color to tank.
I don't claim absolute failure or success on these guys, wonder what it is that we are not seeing for such different experiences w/ them.
I also do not buy into any odd/even theories, I've had them both many times over the years.

Aside from your success, where are the ohter claims of maintaing a group? I dont see them. I especially dont se a 50/50 split. And even if I did, 50% success is hardly a success, IMO.

 

[davocean]

I have seen this discussed many times in reef discusion over the years.
I don't claim everyone will have absolute success, but I would not say certain failure either.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I have seen this discussed many times in reef discusion over the years.
I don't claim everyone will have absolute success, but I would not say certain failure either.

As have I. And the vast majority of claims have been that a dominant fish or two destroy the other fish.

Im not trying to be argumentative, but I just feel that any claims that these are good group fish for our aquarium are quite misrepresentative. I know *you* are not claiming one way or the other, but I can probably search up several threads where people will ask what a good "schooling" fish for their tank could be, and responses almost regularly include "add a school of chromis".

IMO, claims that they CAN be kept in small groups successfully, *have* shown a pretty good trend of failure. Not for the individual fish, but for the group. JMO.

 

[davocean]

Yeah, I'm not trying to preach anything, just as much as it bothers you that people suggest them, it also bothers me when some people just adamantly state it will for sure be a failure, because that has been proven incorrect by many as well.
I think there is something missing from the picture we are not seeing.
I have always had clowns, did they do something to keep them in check, maybe.
I've always had medium-large tangs, did they scare the chromis into grouping up, who knows.
It's just so weird to me that I've never had them pick each other off, ever, over the course of 25 years.
My longest run of 6 for 6 years gave them plenty of time to mature, so I don't think that is a factor.
I'm just giving my exp in an effort to be open minded and learn more.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Yeah, I'm not trying to preach anything, just as much as it bothers you that people suggest them, it also bothers me when some people just adamantly state it will for sure be a failure, because that has been proven incorrect by many as well.
I think there is something missing from the picture we are not seeing.
I have always had clowns, did they do something to keep them in check, maybe.
I've always had medium-large tangs, did they scare the chromis into grouping up, who knows.
It's just so weird to me that I've never had them pick each other off, ever, over the course of 25 years.
My longest run of 6 for 6 years gave them plenty of time to mature, so I don't think that is a factor.
I'm just giving my exp in an effort to be open minded and learn more.

I think you are EXACTLY right- in that some mild "negative stress enrichment" causes a good cohabitation. I big fish, apredator, a busy body aquarist- something that keeps the group more aware of the enviromment than of each other. However, this is a fine line, IMO. At any rate, it sounds as we are clsoer to the same page than not.

 

[Puffer Chick]

ive had some experience with chromis, i bought originally bought 5 chromis knowing that some would die off due to pecking order, i really only wanted 3 for a small school, during the first 24 all but one chromis died, one was eaten by my bubble coral, 2 were floating at the top, and one i neve found. Now im left with one single pure EVIL chromis this thing is crazy mean he has harrased my McCoskers Flasher Wrasse to the point where he was stressed into a really bad case of ick that took 48 hours to go away, i have chromis with a passion. I have tried to catch this guy but he is just so fast and smart.

I know some people have great experiences and some dont but i guess i'm not one of the lucky ones, and now i regret adding them