My chromis aren't schooling

[El Langostino]

In a 90 gallon tank I have a pair of pink skunk clowns, a maroon clown and 3 chromis. but they aren't really schooling at all. How many more should I add to help establish a school?

 

[ledford1]

You could try adding two more to make a group of five. It's no guarantee that they will school though. They usually only school for feeding and protection. In a safe tank, they may feel secure enough to venture out on their own, only returning to the group when feeling threatened.

 

[kappaknight]

Add a lionfish to make em school ;-)

 

[tatoofr]

Hi ,
You need to add more of them,

Frank

 

[El Langostino]

lol, wow...thanks frank, I could have never guessed! I was looking more for an actual number, you know those things like 1,2,3... =P jk

 

[tatoofr]

hows 50 ? Smarty!

 

[drunktank]

chromis r good in 6 or more. IMO

 

[AllenFord_SC]

They normally school through their juvenile years in the wild. It has been widely reported in the home aquarium that they will not school unless there is a sense of threat by tankmates. This fact is hit or miss as Chromis when threatened will usually hide in rockwork. Schooling in the wild is mainly for eating and safety in numbers. Also widely reported is the fact that the largest male will usually bully and might eventually kill the smaller males and eventually you will be left with only a few chromis. A group of 5 is the preffered amount for these fish. They love branching corals like the staghorn coral. In the wild you will almost always see a BG Chromis in or around a branching coral and they sleep in the branches at night for protection.

 

[old salty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6688192#post6688192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kappaknight
Add a lionfish to make em school ;-)

Yeah, that'll work.


I have five in my tank. They usually don't school unless they have a reason (such as adding a lionfish) or moving things around.

 

[Gooli]

"should be kept in groups of 6 or more" - from the "Marine Fishes" book

 

[El Langostino]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. You'd think maybe my Maroon clown would chase them around a bit and possibly give them reason to school up but he's by far the most sissy, docile member of my tank....sometimes even the chromis chase him around...go figure, heh.

 

[Clayman]

They are more free swimmers and will school when scared. And since there are no preds in the tank they kinda do what ever they want.

 

[El Langostino]

Just curious, a bit off subject...has anyone had a docile maroon clown? This fish actually got his tail fin nipped pretty badly by my largest chromis. I really can't believe what I'm seeing.