Success with schools of chromis - Page 5

Chooch1 · #**101** 05/08/2007, 01:49 PM

There was an interesting article in a recent issue of Coral Magazine focusing on damselfish wherein the author, Ellen Thaler I believe, indicated that she had success keeping green chromis in groups without significant losses by feeding small amounts of food very frequently. This seemed to "placate" the chromis and mitigate or rechannel aggression. Obviously an automatic feeder of some kind and a strong protein skimmer would be required. This is a different approach that maybe could be duplicated and could lead to greater success keeping shoals or schools of chromis but water parameters would have to be closely monitored.

wicked_NaCl_h2o · #**102** 05/08/2007, 03:44 PM

I started with seven blue green chromis back in Feb ..now I have six in my 120.. I almost ended up having just five. My husband saw one get sucked up into the sump. We quickly turned off all the pumps and got him out. For several weeks we put him in the QT. After we thought he was strong enough we put him back with the others. They seem to be doing fine..so far I still have six.

jnarowe · #**103** 05/08/2007, 07:56 PM

So I am down to two dominant blue/green chromis with a couple still in hiding as well. Interesting note today, is that they two that have paired up have changed color. They are now speckled with gold. Anyone else see this happen?

Angel*Fish · #**104** 05/08/2007, 08:31 PM

Unfortunately that sounds like they're sick -- I hope I'm wrong

jnarowe · #**105** 05/08/2007, 08:39 PM

I don't know about that. They look like the chromis in this pic squaring off with the bar goby:

Whisperer · #**106** 05/09/2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
They are now speckled with gold. Anyone else see this happen?

Could it be how the light strikes the chromis? One of my chromis demonstrate speckling when he is closer to the front than when he is in the back of the tank. However the others do not have this when they are in the same location in the front of the tank

I dunno.

jnarowe · #**107** 05/09/2007, 09:51 AM

could be. I saw 4 eating last night...

wicked_NaCl_h2o · #**108** 05/09/2007, 10:21 AM

I know that two of my chromis change colors, some times light spots all over their back and some times they turn into a dark green with black edges. The colors go away when they move away from each other. I guess I'll have to get it on video. I am guessing its males fighting over the female or the male is courting the female. I don't know which is male or female. I have asked people on the breeder forum, no one seems to know.

BLockamon · #**109** 05/09/2007, 11:08 AM

I began with a school of 6 and am now down to 4. They've been in the tank ~2 years.

The don't bother each other, but the leader did harrass some firefish to death.

jnarowe · #**110** 05/09/2007, 12:19 PM

I think it may be breeding color changes.

Scottkelly911 · #**111** 05/10/2007, 02:48 AM

has anyone kept a school of Blue Reef Chromis with a small school of Green Chromis? I've got 5 Green Chromis right now and want to add 5 Blue Reef Chromis. Has anyone kept two different Chromis together?

Dave Cox · #**112** 05/10/2007, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Cox
Have had 4 no problem (so far) for about 15 months...

Well, an update from me on my post above... and it follows an all-too familiar tale...

My 4 lasted to about 18 months, nice and peaceful. I then noticed one looking a bit tatty, being isolated. A week later, the pathetic, lonely little wretch died.

Undeterred, I added 2 more - I'd heard the 'odd numbers' theory.

Couple of weeks later, a fish was bullied, isolated and starved. Then another. Then another.

Now I'm down to 2, things have settled down.

I'm upgrading to a 300 gall in a couple of weeks, and I suppose I will transfer the 2 remaining chromis across - but I won't be adding any more. I'm going to try a shoal of 8/10 Bartletts Anthias instead.

It's my opinion that the only reason people keep trying with Chromis is because they are cheap - and that's sad. If they were $50 each, people wouldn't be so ready to just add another couple (like I admittedly did) when things go wrong.

So, I had 18 months of 'success' - but I don't consider that a success at all because fish in my care died.

Overall, I'd say chromis aren't a good choice for my reef tank.

christa · #**113** 05/10/2007, 09:04 AM

Just 2 nights ago 2 of my chromis disappeared overnight. I have one left now. Maybe they killed eachother off? I didn't know chromis did this. I read in a book that they school well together, I guess I can't trust all books!

jnarowe · #**114** 05/10/2007, 09:22 AM

Well Dave, I think you have summed it up well. It does appear that one of the most prolific fish sold in the hobby is not suited for captive care. I am so surprised!

jnarowe · #**115** 05/26/2007, 04:17 PM

I just pulled another injured Blue/Green out of my display. It is badly injured and I doubt it will survive the night. So I am down to 3 or 4 and still I am seeing agression.

lecher · #**116** 05/26/2007, 07:08 PM

Have 3 now for about 8 months. No major conflicts between them.

Gary Majchrzak · #**117** 05/26/2007, 07:19 PM

siskiou · #**118** 05/26/2007, 07:34 PM

I have 3 (in the tank for about 4 months now) and two have paired up, while the third hangs out alone or with one of the two anthias.
The loner seems healthy, and only gets chased very rarely.

I'm also not convinced that the "pair" is always made up of the same two fish.
Sometimes I wonder if there is one male and two females, and the male is going back and forth between the two ladies.

They change color on occasion, becoming all blotchy (dark spots) and when they do, they seem to display courting behavior.

McCrary · #**119** 05/26/2007, 08:45 PM

I have 7 in my tank and they have become more and more of a group since I put them in. Its cool to watch them move in a little herd.

jnarowe · #**120** 05/27/2007, 01:33 PM

Well I counted an extra chromis in my tank last night. I have one in QT which isn't going to make it, and noticed another one hugging the display wall and looking ratty last night. I guess the ostracized ones have been hiding out in the rocks so I haven't had an accurate count in quite a while. So apparently until I took out the injured one yesterday, there were actually six in the tank.

Angel*Fish · #**121** 05/27/2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak

That's so beautiful

Thanks for posting it.

Dave, I think you have a good point there about the $50.

Toshas79 · #**122** 05/28/2007, 01:38 AM

I had 7 , had no problem , nice fish

AquaReeferMan · #**123** 05/28/2007, 01:48 AM

I started with 7 two months ago. I still have all 7. They show no sign of aggression towards each other. Very awesome to watch them. Because of my 3 Tangs and 2 Clowns they do a nice job of sticking together.

wicked_NaCl_h2o · #**124** 05/28/2007, 09:12 AM

Gary, where is that picture taken? Is it a picture in the wild or in a aquarium? Looks like its in the wild, but I have seen so many beautiful aquariums that it is difficult to guess. Awesome picture

Gary Majchrzak · #**125** 05/28/2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wicked_NaCl_h2o
Gary, where is that picture taken? Is it a picture in the wild or in a aquarium?

pic taken on a wild reef.
Note that although there a lot of Chromis in that picture, they aren't "schooling".

View Poll Results: Success
Success with group of 3 or so	67	26.48%
Failure w/ "	35	13.83%
Success w/ more than 3, less than 7	63	24.90%
failure w/ "	38	15.02%
Success w/ 7+	44	17.39%
Failure w/"	20	7.91%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 253. You may not vote on this poll