Reef safe small schooling fish

[noobtothereef]

That's a sign of a pretty good store. A bad store would sell you the 20.

(My favorite store in that area closed a few years ago.)

You must be talking about petworld? They had TONS of good stuff and a bunch of thriving reef tanks, they had all of the hard to find reef stuff locally, it was nice. After they had to move theyre store across the way to the new store it was downhill after that though, they had to break down all those reef tanks that have been running for years, wasnt quite te same after that, but they all knew theyre stuff and didnt try to sell you 100 fish for a nano cube....most of the other stores around here will because they are so hungry for a sale its rediculous, my guess is that the internet killed the local lfs's here and nationwide. I saw an aqualifer pump at an lfs that was $69.....

 

[Wolverine]

You must be talking about petworld?

Actually Bellevue Pet Center was the one I used to go to (across the river for you ).
Animal Talk was another one I liked, but I was biased since I worked there.

 

[noobtothereef]

yeah theyve been closed for about 3 years i think, it was a nice place when they were around

 

[acesq]

I have a school of 5 Apagon Parvalus in my 120 and love them, they stick together much better than my 4 lyretail anthias and look great. You might give these fish a look.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I have a school of 5 Apagon Parvalus in my 120 and love them, they stick together much better than my 4 lyretail anthias and look great. You might give these fish a look.

I looked for those at the time and wasn't patient enough and settled for the threadfin cardinals. Do they swim around the tank or just hang? I'd love to see pics!

 

[E.intheC]

I agree with the posters who state the chromis pick each other off. I'd guess 9/10 people that I have seen/heard of locally who have tried keeping a small group have ended up with one or two in the end. It happened to me as well.

I like the apogon parvalus idea as well... If you can find them.

 

[bryan007]

1+ to the comments above on the Chromis and the comment on fish that school lose the instinct when there is no threat.

 

[jd474]

Actually Bellevue Pet Center was the one I used to go to (across the river for you ).
Animal Talk was another one I liked, but I was biased since I worked there.

Ah, the good ole days!

 

[noobtothereef]

Ah, the good ole days!

thats pretty cool you guys are having that speaker at the zoo for free, i might just have to attend

 

[solitude127]

There are literally dozens of threads in this forum about it, and I've personally witnessed in in a few dozen tanks. I wouldn't count yourself safe at a few months.

What would you consider a safe amount of time? 1yr, 2yr? My dad has had 5 in his reef for the past 2 yrs and no fatalities.

 

[Wolverine]

What would you consider a safe amount of time? 1yr, 2yr? My dad has had 5 in his reef for the past 2 yrs and no fatalities.

I don't really consider it an issue of a safe amount of time, I just don't consider anything as short as "months" as success in this hobby. I'd never say that they always wipe each other out, but that is definitely the more likely occurrence, and it sounds like your dad is one of the lucky ones.

 

[Wolverine]

Ah, the good ole days!

I heard that BPC had gone downhill after Scott left before it closed, which is a shame (he's a member here, but doesn't post all that much).

 

[jd474]

thats pretty cool you guys are having that speaker at the zoo for free, i might just have to attend

Jim, everyone is welcome. We were not allowed to post it on NMS website, or the site here, and are trying to get the word out on short notice. But again, anyone can attend

I heard that BPC had gone downhill after Scott left before it closed, which is a shame (he's a member here, but doesn't post all that much).

It's funny hearing those names. I work for Mitch, if you were there when he was still at animal talk.

 

[noobtothereef]

Jim, everyone is welcome. We were not allowed to post it on NMS website, or the site here, and are trying to get the word out on short notice. But again, anyone can attend

Actually i just noticed the guys over at ruff posted it up on the nms board

 

[Wolverine]

It's funny hearing those names. I work for Mitch, if you were there when he was still at animal talk.

He had already left, but I actually ended up getting the job at Animal Talk from talking to Mitch about working at the aquarium at the zoo, and he new that AT needed someone.

 

[twinypalm]

How about a school of Chalk Bass?

I have 1 right now, if they really school I think I will get more. Can anyone confirm? TIA

 

[Wolverine]

I have 1 right now, if they really school I think I will get more. Can anyone confirm? TIA

They typically do well in groups of 3-5. I haven't seen many people with larger groups, but that may just be interest and cost more than a problem with the fish themselves.

 

[Tylt33]

They typically do well in groups of 3-5. I haven't seen many people with larger groups, but that may just be interest and cost more than a problem with the fish themselves.

In the archives there is a thread about a guy who tried keeping these in his tank in groups long term... experienced the same problems as people have with chromis. Let me see if I can find it.

 

[jd474]

Chalk bass can generally be kept in groups. We have 6, and one will occasionally assert it's dominance, but no major aggression.

 

[spieszak]

I didn't see bartlets anthia's on this thread. I don't have experience with them, but have heard good things.
As for the Chromis deal, I have 6 in my tank now as the first fish (precycled with lr and ls). I hope that they all make it through the secondary cycle, but have to kind of expect to lose one or two. I hadn't heard about them picking each other off. Anyone have a time frame as to when that happens? Is it as soon as the acclimate to their new home and feel comfotable, or more as they mature and start figuring out they like the boy/girls?
Also, any thoughts as to whether it really is them picking on the smallest/weakest member of the schoal, or whether its mating related? Since the new tank cycling in is my second, I have the option of moving one or two if the aggression gets bad.. but if they are just going to choose the next smallest/weakest there wouldn't be too much point and it would probably be better to let the "picked on" fish deal with the Chromis rather than sinking him in with the larger fish in the other tank...