Wolverine
Premium Member
They're typically killed from the smallest and moving up the chain from there, which would fit with the former. Also, sometimes you end up with just one, which would argue against it being a mating issue.
Reef safe small schooling fish
- Thread starter noobtothereef
- Start date
They're typically killed from the smallest and moving up the chain from there, which would fit with the former. Also, sometimes you end up with just one, which would argue against it being a mating issue.
noobtothereef
New member
Any problems with the chalk bass and a six line? Considering they are pretty close to the same size,shape and color? My six line is pretty small
jd474
New member
I've never mixed them since they are from different oceans, but I don't see it as a problem if the basslets are good sized. Sixlines can be really aggressive, but usually only towards other labrids, or really passive fish.
MechEng99
aka Reef'd Up
I bought 5 or 6 chromis when I started up my 150g tank...knowing they'd pick each other off. I figured they were great hardy fish that would school for a while and look cool while the tank was fairly unstable (tank was cycled when I added them...just not 100% perfect yet though).
Sure enough, I'm down to 2 chromis over a year later (and have been down to 2 for quite some time...maybe at the 8 month point?). Another local guy had a pretty large school in his 280g tank, and is down to I think only 1 now (over a year later).
I'm sure there are exceptions, but generally chromis will only school as juveniles and/or when there is an active threat. As they get older, bolder, and realize there is no threat, they will pick off the others one by one.
I'm planning to get a school of cardinals...knowing the ones that truly school look like freshwater fish and are pretty cryptic...but I still think it'll be a nice background show.
Sure enough, I'm down to 2 chromis over a year later (and have been down to 2 for quite some time...maybe at the 8 month point?). Another local guy had a pretty large school in his 280g tank, and is down to I think only 1 now (over a year later).
I'm sure there are exceptions, but generally chromis will only school as juveniles and/or when there is an active threat. As they get older, bolder, and realize there is no threat, they will pick off the others one by one.
I'm planning to get a school of cardinals...knowing the ones that truly school look like freshwater fish and are pretty cryptic...but I still think it'll be a nice background show.
Skipponator
New member
When I first started the hobby with a 90gal I bought six small chromis and they all lived fine in there, made a house move where I set up a 125 later and for the 3 years at that time of my life I never lost a chromis. So six months ago I came back intothe hobby and brought 5 home. I've been down to 2 since about 2 weeks after I got them. I was hoping to keep all five.
OodleyBoodely
New member
The grammas will co-exist if introduced all together and if there is enough space for each to claim a territory, but, they will not school. They would look very nice and colorful, though! :thumbsup:
Some of the dartfish shoal nicely together...the green-barred and my favorite, the blue gudgeons. They are very peaceful and colorful and if not harrassed will stay out in the open most of the time. Might not do well with some of your current fish though, such as 6-line or an agressive tang.
el aguila
Member
If you are going to do anthias, in my opinion the more docile ones (Dispar, Loris, Flame, Resplendent) will do alright in a tank like yours.
I added 8 Dispars had 2 females turn male 2 years ago and rarely see any type of aggression between them in a 190. On the other hand I added 5 female Carberryis 5 months ago and 2 turned male. Quite abit more aggression between them. Time will tell, but I believe that they will both make it.
I also hav 6 Kupang Damsels. They definitely don't hang together, but they are existing without one being picked off. They do add a nice splash of color.
I added 8 Dispars had 2 females turn male 2 years ago and rarely see any type of aggression between them in a 190. On the other hand I added 5 female Carberryis 5 months ago and 2 turned male. Quite abit more aggression between them. Time will tell, but I believe that they will both make it.
I also hav 6 Kupang Damsels. They definitely don't hang together, but they are existing without one being picked off. They do add a nice splash of color.
chiblackhawks4
In Memoriam
+1 on the cardinals, personally I like the bangaii or however you spell it. Cool black and white patterns...
nanoreefer1000
Active member
Yes but they can't school as adults, they'll kill each other
SaltWaterGuy08
Member
chromis, dartfish, anthias great schooling and reef safe
Angel*Fish
cats and large squashes
You are the exception. And i have a feeling at least three people will read this whole thread and only hear that it worked for you, tuning out the rest, and go out and buy a bag of 8 chromis.
There may be something about the dynamics in your tank in terms of rock scape, currents, starting sex of each of the fish purchased in relation to their sizes and other tank inhabitants that makes it successful for you. But as far as I know, no one has yet figured out if that's even the case and if so, what the right set up would be.
And I'm not sure a year is a proper test, though it's a good start.
I know this is an ancient thread, and I wasn't the original person this comment was directed towards, but came across this thread from google and figured I would share my experience with blue/green chromis. Purchased 7 back in about 2008 for a 90 gallon. Pretty early on lost 2. Then I had 5 for a very long time. one of them became a dominant female and has been laying eggs over the years. I recently upgraded tanks in june 2015 to a 120 and shortly after the upgrade lost 1 of the middle sized ones which only had 1/2 of his lower jaw since I got him (No idea how he lived this long or what caused him to die). But now im down to 4 which its been at for about 16 months since I lost the last one. And they still lay a clutch of eggs every few months.
SoloChromis
New member
* Margarita or "Red" Stripe Cardinals (Ostorhinchus margaritophorus)
* Longspine/Ghost Cardinals (Zoramia leptacantha)
* Red Spot Glass Cardinals (Apogon parvulus)
* Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus)
* Lori's Anthias (Pseudanthias lori)
* Allen's Damsels (Pomacentrus alleni)
* Azure Damsels (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)... Neither of these damsels school, but I've seen them kept as multiples successfully longterm
* Zebra Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra)
* Scissortail Dartfish (Ptereleotris evides)
* Any of the sexually dimorphic fairy/flasher wrasses can typically be kept as harems quite easily
* Chalk Basses (Serranus tortugarum)
* Any of the assessors
... Theres loads of good, small grouping fish available, you don't necessarily have to settle for blue/green chromis and lyretail anthias :thumbsup:
* Longspine/Ghost Cardinals (Zoramia leptacantha)
* Red Spot Glass Cardinals (Apogon parvulus)
* Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus)
* Lori's Anthias (Pseudanthias lori)
* Allen's Damsels (Pomacentrus alleni)
* Azure Damsels (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)... Neither of these damsels school, but I've seen them kept as multiples successfully longterm
* Zebra Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra)
* Scissortail Dartfish (Ptereleotris evides)
* Any of the sexually dimorphic fairy/flasher wrasses can typically be kept as harems quite easily
* Chalk Basses (Serranus tortugarum)
* Any of the assessors
... Theres loads of good, small grouping fish available, you don't necessarily have to settle for blue/green chromis and lyretail anthias :thumbsup:
