Dead Chromis

[rayvette]

I had three Chromis and one Royal Gramma in a relatively new tank. The Royal Gramma contracted what I believe to be popeye and ultimately died...that was approximately 3 weeks ago. Since then, the Chromis had stopped "schooling" and two seemed to hang out together and engage in what looked like some sort of mating behavior, i.e. kissing, one would roll on its side and allow the other to gently peck at it. While all this is going on, the smallest of the three was left to himself. He often was harrassed by the largest. Yesterday I saw the little guy swimming differently but I disimissed it. He had no external signs of anything. Late last night, I knew something was wrong when I found him near the bottom of the tank (where he has never been before). Rather than put him through the stress of turning on the lights and putting him in a hospital tank, I figured I would do it this morning. I wake up this morning and I see that 3 hermit crabs and a peppermint shrimp have made a meal out of him....nothing but skeleton left! I guess I have two questions. First, do you think his quick deterioration was caused by the harassment of the other Chromis? And secondly, is it possible that whatever he had has now been passed on to the crabs and shrimp who have eaten him? Thank in advance.

 

[paulamrein]

It's common for chromis to do that, they school and regardless of the sizeof the school they seem to find one more each time to pluck out of the ranks. the smaller weaker one could have died for countless reasons. A relatively new tank could have all kinds of water fluctuations and mystery deaths. It's very unlikely that the crabs and shrimp will be effected in any way. That's what they do, they eat dead stuff and waste. Give it some time before you put anything else in the tank in case it is something harmful. It always seems to be the most recent fish die first, and it almost goes in order of arrival when the rest die.