Chromis

[shua71]

Hey do any of you guys know why my green chromis have all died except 1? People have said its due to the stress of being caught and then put in tanks. Others have said they kill each other off until there is a pair or 1 left. I recently bought 3 that seemed extremely healthy and ate right out of the bag and now only have one left. The smallest that died looked all beat up. How are there people who keep like 8-9 in a tank?

 

[Tin_Whistler]

they kill each other off until there is 1 left.

Modified your post slightly...

Highlander fish, there can be only one.

I have seen tanks with more than one for long periods of time, though it's usually in a very large tank.

 

[dzfish17]

Here are three things that Ive read that help keep them alive... large tank, heavy feedings, and larger tankmates to force them to stay together. GL.

 

[shua71]

Okay thanks for the info guys. Guess they're not the peaceful schooling fish the LFS kept telling me they were. Atleast I know not to buy more to get a school going :headwalls:

 

[evanski]

Here are three things that Ive read that help keep them alive... large tank, heavy feedings, and larger tankmates to force them to stay together. GL.

I am wondering if this point isn't exactly the opposite of what is needed. The need to group (school shoal, I won't dicker over nuance) might be increased by the proximity of another, aggressive fish.

Pure speculation on my part, as there appears to be no consensus. I have read just about everything I can on the subject, here and on other forums...the only consistent thing is some folks can't seem to keep them, and others wonder why others CAN'T keep them.

Five seems a good number, and more frequent, lighter feedings seem to help as well. Starting with smaller fish has also been suggested.

I am setting up a QT tank for my new 50G shallow tank with a PITA clown fish (bites me when I am doing maintenance!) who I hope will keep them together in class.

Will let you all know.

 

[shua71]

I am wondering if this point isn't exactly the opposite of what is needed. The need to group (school shoal, I won't dicker over nuance) might be increased by the proximity of another, aggressive fish.

Pure speculation on my part, as there appears to be no consensus. I have read just about everything I can on the subject, here and on other forums...the only consistent thing is some folks can't seem to keep them, and others wonder why others CAN'T keep them.

Five seems a good number, and more frequent, lighter feedings seem to help as well. Starting with smaller fish has also been suggested.

I am setting up a QT tank for my new 50G shallow tank with a PITA clown fish (bites me when I am doing maintenance!) who I hope will keep them together in class.

Will let you all know.

So what you're saying is you need a group thats forced to stick together? Could you clarify cause i'm a little confused

 

[dzhuo]

Here are three things that Ive read that help keep them alive... large tank, heavy feedings, and larger tankmates to force them to stay together. GL.

I think food (abundant), space (plenty) and lots of chromis (to defer aggression) are the keys. I don't believe larger tankmate would make a difference:

1. The fish's awareness of being eaten is a generic build in protection mechanism (result of millions of years of evolution) that wouldn't have changed simply because a few years captive in a tank without predator.

2. The primary function of schooling is for protection but chromis isn't a true schooling fish. The fact that chromis shows aggressive among themselves and slowly killing off each other defeats the purpose of school (if the group becomes smaller over time, there is no point spending energy schooling in the first place) so I don't think a larger tankmate would change this behavior either.

I started with 8 chromis about 10 months ago and recently added another 8 for a total of 16. So far, everyone is happy except one died over night from the first batch (which wasn't due to aggression). I plan to keep approximately 25 to 30 eventually.

 

[dzfish17]

I think food (abundant), space (plenty) and lots of chromis (to defer aggression) are the keys. I don't believe larger tankmate would make a difference:

1. The fish's awareness of being eaten is a generic build in protection mechanism (result of millions of years of evolution) that wouldn't have changed simply because a few years captive in a tank without predator.

2. The primary function of schooling is for protection but chromis isn't a true schooling fish. The fact that chromis shows aggressive among themselves and slowly killing off each other defeats the purpose of school (if the group becomes smaller over time, there is no point spending energy schooling in the first place) so I don't think a larger tankmate would change this behavior either.

I started with 8 chromis about 10 months ago and recently added another 8 for a total of 16. So far, everyone is happy except one died over night from the first batch (which wasn't due to aggression). I plan to keep approximately 25 to 30 eventually.

I agree that plenty of space and food seems to be the best way of keeping them alive. Ive had a group of five for allmost 5 months now without any problems but a few aquarists reported that their chromis seemed to do better when they had bigger/more aggressive fishes with them. Let me clarify that it is not my opinion just what I've seen here on RC.

 

[dzhuo]

Let me clarify that it is not my opinion just what I've seen here on RC.

I have heard that many times as well. And it might be true. No one really knows.

 

[evanski]

So what you're saying is you need a group thats forced to stick together? Could you clarify cause i'm a little confused

Yes, this is exactly what I am speculating...again, I like everyone else is going by a mound of anecdotal data seen here and elsewhere.

I am hoping that my five (I am setting up a QT as we speak) will stick together in a relatively small tank (50G shallow) with a moderately aggressive clown and 2+ light feedings per day.

Successful or not, I will post the results here to add to the information already posted.

 

[Federer]

I have 2 in my 150 gallon. It appears that is just enough territory/swimming space to keep both as a pair. In the past, only 1 chromis would be the last survivor of the intended school. Even though they appear cute and innocent, they can be vicious to their own kind, always starting with the smallest/weakest in the group. Incessant harassment.

 

[LinkinReef]

I have 6 in my 210 for about a year now and they all swim together showing no aggression towards one another. I feed twice a day, frozen and pellets

 

[jhentr]

My experience: I started with 8 last November. I had four at the end of last month. I then added another 8 and have 13 for now.

Looking at the chromis, sometimes you see one or two with missing scales, partial missing fins, but never really see any aggression. They are kept with large angels and triggers and only school partially in a 450.