school of chromis

[smith1571]

I have a 65 gal with a coral beauty and a dotty back. I would like to have some blue green chromis. What would be the most I could have in a tank this size. I also have a 30 sump

 

[Jmason95]

IMO, 3-5. I had 5 in my 90 with a PBT, 2 wrasses, a Cherub angel and a blenny. You could always add like 3, then if things go well maybe in a couple weeks add a few more. I started with 3 and added 2 several months later, no probs, they all schooled together.

 

[sean48183]

I agree jmason. 3-5.

 

[Ruskin]

From what I've heard about Chromis it doesnt matter how many you have. At some point one will kill the rest. Im sure some one more versed in Chromis could chime in tho.

 

[reef_doug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12606967#post12606967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ruskin
From what I've heard about Chromis it doesnt matter how many you have. At some point one will kill the rest. Im sure some one more versed in Chromis could chime in tho.

I have 7 for over 2 years now. They key is to have flow to curb aggressions. With the Tunzes on the controller, the chromis love to school up and switch directions.

 

[SDguy]

I personally don't think a 65g tank is big enough to have a group of chromis. I have a pair in my 115g. They are pretty big, and constantly do their courting thing. They would kill (and have) any oher chromis in the tank.

 

[sean48183]

I have 4 for about a year now in a 150g and they are fine. Maybe a bigger tank is key but other than a little cat and mouse there is no real problems.

 

[BradsOcean]

make sure you get all the SAME SIZE chromis....if they are different sizes, the big one will start off immediately killing the others

 

[Jmason95]

I had 1 big chromis with 4 smaller ones in my 90. Never any problems, no chromis on chromis violence. :uzi:

As I said before, I even added 2 more several months after I had 3 already in the tank and they were all together for about 1 1/2 years before I took my tank down.

Honestly, I was surprised to hear that people have had problems with keeping them in groups. That's never been my experience - but maybe I was just lucky.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12611673#post12611673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jmason95
I had 1 big chromis with 4 smaller ones in my 90. Never any problems, no chromis on chromis violence. :uzi:

As I said before, I even added 2 more several months after I had 3 already in the tank and they were all together for about 1 1/2 years before I took my tank down.

Honestly, I was surprised to hear that people have had problems with keeping them in groups. That's never been my experience - but maybe I was just lucky.

Did any court and/or breed in that time?

 

[Zaita]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12611037#post12611037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BradsOcean
make sure you get all the SAME SIZE chromis....if they are different sizes, the big one will start off immediately killing the others

I have 4 different sized ones with no issues. I think my success is because my Hippo Tang keeps an eye on them and is the boss of everyone

 

[petsarenice]

I might recommend keeping odd numbers if you are going to try it.

 

[Jmason95]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12611700#post12611700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
Did any court and/or breed in that time?

I don't think there was any breeding going on, but I wasn't really looking for it. But courtship, I think so...I would catch em' locking lips from time to time. And it appeared that there was a hierarchy among them.

I actually had two that had gotten noticeably bigger from the time I had purchased them. And again, I never saw anything that I would consider fighting, etc.

 

[oskew411]

chromis have relatively low waste output, so with a 65 gallon, about 4-5 would be more than fine. i have another question for everyone. why are chromis prices up? at all Lfs, they are up to $4.99 each. even on liveaquaria.com. ridiculous. i used to be able to get 3 inchers for $2.99. ahh!!!

 

[Sarcophyton69]

Shipping costs due to high gas prices

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12620578#post12620578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oskew411
chromis have relatively low waste output,

Interesting statement. Do you have data on this? Relative to what?

BTW, I would definitely consider "locking lips" fighting

 

[Mike31154]

I introduced 3 chromis' in my 75 gal, all slightly different in size. At first they schooled nicely but eventually the smaller one ended up terrorized in a corner of the tank and wasn't eating. Not sure whether that was due to my Blue Devil damsel harassing him or infighting among the Chromis' themselves. He finally disappeared and I assume he was weakened to the point that he became food for my BTA. That's just a guess, but I never found the remains. Now the larger one hangs out just a few inches above my Maroon Clown pair and their BTA during the day time and finds a place to hide in the rocks in the evening. The second smaller one was on the brink of the same fate as the smallest, staying up in the corner of the tank and starving. However, at some point he started eating again and recovered somewhat. I still wouldn't call him totally healthy but he's hanging in there. The larger chromis seems to help him out at times, diverting attacks from my Blue Devil damsel but will also give him a domineering nudge after feeding time which sends him back to his corner. The larger Chromis has figured out that being near the Clowns is a good thing since the Blue Devil damsel doesn't dare venture into that territory or the female Maroon will take a run at him. Interesting how the Chromis is tolerated so close to the Maroons & their BTA whereas the Blue Devil is absolutely not.
I'd prefer to have an odd number of them vice the two I have left, but I'm going to wait now until I set up a 90 gal before adding any more. Perhaps introducing them first will give them a better chance against the Blue Devil.

 

[Jmason95]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12622525#post12622525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy

BTW, I would definitely consider "locking lips" fighting

Ok, maybe they were fighting then...but no deaths occurred becasue of it and I never saw any one Chromis picking on or specifically bullying another...all I do know is that I had five and I thought they all got along

Funny thing, I always thought that Chromis were an "easy" or "beginner" fish, now everyone has got me scarred to try and house a group of Chromis ever again

 

[SDguy]

LOL, that's what we're here for....to scare the bejesus out of you J/K


I think fish can survivie with aggression amongst them...in the proper environment. I just don't think a 65g tank will provide that environment.