Success with schools of chromis

garvondavis14 · #1 04/16/2006, 10:11 PM

Just wondering what the success rate is for people who have schools of chromis, without them killing each other or pairing off

MIKE NY · #2 04/16/2006, 10:25 PM

twice over the years I tried a school of six in my 90..after a few months I ended up with just one. I only have one now.

garvondavis14 · #3 04/16/2006, 11:48 PM

yea im tryin to see how many ppl that happens to

garvondavis14 · #4 04/17/2006, 12:55 AM

hmm...i know everyone and their mom has had chromis before lol

stykthyn · #5 04/17/2006, 06:05 AM

I have tried a school of 6 a couple of times, after 2 weeks they are all dead. the first time they killed each other off, the second time my trigger pecked em off one by one, and the last time I just think I got a bad batch of fish. I think I am done with chromis.

karid · #6 04/17/2006, 09:35 AM

I had a group of 7 black bar chromis in a 55g. They did not like each other, staked out their own territories, and fought any other chromis that intruded. Not what I was hoping for.

I now have 3 black bar chromis in a 90g. I used to have 4 in the 90g, but one "mysteriously" disappeared. They still stake out their own territories and bully each other if they get too close. But they are very small and in a 90g, that doesn't happen too often anymore. Normally they stay in their own areas, so it isn't too bad. At least they don't kill each other. Well...except maybe that one.

moonpod · #7 04/17/2006, 02:00 PM

Started with 10 green chromis. I have 9 now. 6mos+

Benny Z · #8 04/17/2006, 02:36 PM

i put 3 in my 29g a few weeks ago.

i'm down to 2 and the larger one is picking on the other now.

garvondavis14 · #9 04/17/2006, 03:00 PM

looks pretty mixed so far

RichConley · #10 04/17/2006, 03:46 PM

I'd like to see another option in there: Success with 15+

7 still really isnt a school.

PoukieBear · #11 04/18/2006, 07:44 AM

I love these guys...when they actually decide to live peacefully together...wich never seems to happen.

I had 7 in my 220g and now I'm down to 2.

sneeyatch · #12 04/18/2006, 08:27 AM

started with 3 in my 75, now down to 1 (the smallest of the 3) go figure - wished it would've worked out...

Amphiprion · #13 04/18/2006, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by karid
I had a group of 7 black bar chromis in a 55g. They did not like each other, staked out their own territories, and fought any other chromis that intruded. Not what I was hoping for.

C. retrofasciata does not occur in group densities like, say, C. viridis. They occur singly or in very small loose groups where each individual has a good area. The amount in the new tank is more representative of how they would occur normally.

As far as C. viridis goes, I have to agree with RichConley.

Leishman · #14 04/18/2006, 09:36 AM

started w/12 and now have 8 (18 months later)

Jeremy Blaze · #15 04/18/2006, 01:33 PM

Thats what a school of chromis, or any other damsel looks like.

I've tried it with 24 in a 1200 gallon tank, several times, as well as 12 in a 300.

Did not last

Kahuna Tuna · #16 04/18/2006, 03:49 PM

I have tried several times and always eventually ended up with a single pair. I think people with some aggressive fish in their system that will force them to school have better luck but in a passive tank my experience is that they will turn on each other.

Wolverine · #17 04/18/2006, 04:28 PM

One of the problems with a poll like this is your definition of "success". All the time you see posts along the lines of, "I've had fish x and y together for 4 months with no problems, so it can be done". I tend to think of these things in terms of years. So for the people who have had success, I would be interested in (a) how long it's been, and (b) what size tank.

The only people I've seen successfully keep schools of chromis for the long term (like more than 3-4 years) have done it in very large tanks, like 300+g.

Dave

Jeremy Blaze · #18 04/18/2006, 07:45 PM

I agree with wolverine,

however, as I stated, I have not had long term success( 1 year or more) in a 1200 gallon reef, this tank is 10'x6'x3', and has several large tangs. Even then, by 6months or more there were not many chromis left from the original 24 added to the tank, all at the same time btw.

MickyB · #19 04/18/2006, 08:04 PM

Started out with 15 about a year ago down to 9 now.

stykthyn · #20 04/18/2006, 11:30 PM

I see Sgt Major Damsels schooling all the time in the wild. I think they might be a better candidate for longterm success.

Jeremy Blaze · #21 04/19/2006, 06:37 AM

Scholing in the wild is different, lots of fish school in the wild, but not in small aquaria.

stykthyn · #22 04/19/2006, 08:43 AM

jus sayin, may be worth a shot

Leishman · #23 04/19/2006, 08:51 AM

Here are some of mine hanging w/my Wantanabi:

Red Sea Purple Tang · #24 04/19/2006, 06:22 PM

I started off with 5 small ones and wound up with 3.

Dave Cox · #25 04/20/2006, 04:33 AM

Have had 4 no problem (so far) for about 15 months...

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