Success with schools of chromis

[Wolverine]

Originally posted by Jeremy Blaze
6 months may be a long time, but anything less than that should not be considered a sucess IMO.

I don't consider 6 months to be a long time either.

Dave

[jnarowe]

I really had just said the 6 months was a long time in jest as it relates to a new tank. In the scheme of things, 6 months is nothing when discussing a reef!

Wolverine BTW, I like your web site with advice pages. Good solid advice for new-comers!

[Gary Majchrzak]

IME the smallest Green Chromis that are imported (1"-1.5") will live about 5-6 years before dying of old age.
Spawning seems to wear them out slightly faster.

[rich_tilbury]

I added 3 to a 29gal tank. 10 months later the first one died - it was being picked on. Last week, 15 months after first adding the fish, I officially have one left!

Pretty much saw as described, a dominant fish harrasses the others and the losing fish become weaker and then die. I made sure the weaker fish was getting regular doses of cyclopeze dropped near enough for it to eat. It ate well and often, but just turned up dead one morning with some wounds to the flanks, which could be caused by bacterial agents or an attack. It wasn't conclusive.

Would I keep Chromis again... nope. If it was a more peaceful tank I'd keep threadfin cardinal fish.

I'm upgrading to a much larger tank this year. I have two humbug damsels in QT and I'm seeing how they get on. They have a reputation for being aggressive, but the rest of the tank mates (tomato clowns and a pygmy angel) aren't know for their fluffiness!

[Wolverine]

Originally posted by jnarowe
Wolverine BTW, I like your web site with advice pages. Good solid advice for new-comers!

Thanks. I have to admit it's about 3 years out of date. We've been so busy with RL that we haven't even made a feeble attempt at updating. I guess I still have reason to keep some of the old stuff there.

Dave

[Angel*Fish]

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
IME the smallest Green Chromis that are imported (1"-1.5") will live about 5-6 years before dying of old age.
Spawning seems to wear them out slightly faster.

Spawning seems to take so much energy, but they are "happier" fish while alive, maybe. I mean that they are busy fish with a purpose, not necessarily that the act of spawning is so much fun, BTW. I wonder if an improved diet could compensate?

[jnarowe]

that's funny...diet? These guys will eat anything in the water column. I have even seen one take a taste of another one's leavings...

[Angel*Fish]

Originally posted by jnarowe
that's funny...diet? These guys will eat anything in the water column. I have even seen one take a taste of another one's leavings...

Isn't that the point kind of? We really may not know which foods are optimal for their very best health. Maybe if we did, the energy/stress required for spawning would be less likely to shorten their lives. Just a thought, you know.

Maybe vitamins, etc. would help. I nominate Gary to do a study

[Gary Majchrzak]

Diet is crucial for all fishes. Just because a fish will eat something doesn't mean it's good food. If you don't feed a rotation of quality foods you'll end up with dull fishes that won't spawn.

[Scottkelly911]

one of the problems with Chromis are that in the wild they feed all day long while in schools. In an aquarium they're usually fed once a day, twice if they're lucky. This brings out the aggressive tendencies in them because they're always foraging for food. To keep Chromis in schools successfully, they need to be fed very small amounts several times a day in a large system. It's just very tough to do, it can be done, but very tough. Also, I'm not sure why, but they do best in schools of odd numbers, the more the better. One of my favorite all time fish is the Blue reef Chromis. When you get a bunch of those guys schooling, they're so cool. I had 11 of them in a 125 reef tank, just like everyone else here, it was mixed results. I miss them though. I wish I could put one in my nano as my 125's long gone. But I know that would probably kill it, plus I don't think my 2 clowns would be too happy.

[Angel*Fish]

Originally posted by Scottkelly911
one of the problems with Chromis are that in the wild they feed all day long while in schools. In an aquarium they're usually fed once a day, twice if they're lucky. This brings out the aggressive tendencies in them because they're always foraging for food. To keep Chromis in schools successfully, they need to be fed very small amounts several times a day in a large system.

That sounds plausible - maybe you guys can post your number of daily feedings relative to your "success"

[reg828]

i believe juvenile chromis will peacefully school but later when they become mature like all damsels, they will become solitary and territorial against each other. so, i would say, get a juvenile or small chromis. period... it might work long term...

[roni]

anecdotal support for scottkelly's theory...i had an automatic flake feeder which dosed 5 times a day...plus i fed a variety of frozen foods, usually another 3 times a day (in the am, when i got back from school, and at night). With that feeding regimen, i really didn't have any trouble with chromis or anthias.

[Jeremy Blaze]

For eveyone who is saying they have had success, please define the time peroid in which you define success, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, etc..

[roni]

a little greater then 1 year.

[jnarowe]

I also tend to feed small amounts 2 or 3 times per day.

[Instant Tang]

I've currently have 5 that I can see, but had as many as 7 before...have also lost about 4 others in a year.

Mine don't school anymore for some reason. They hide out in the rocks or behind powerheads and only come out at feeding time now. I used to enjoy them schooling together. One's definitely bigger than the others now- he must be grabbing all the chow faster.

[DaveBrader]

Interesting thread.. I just ran across it tonight. I have 9 Green Chromis in my tank. I also feed them small amounts of brine shrimp five times a day, and they get the other two feedings when I feed the rest of the tank. They are not aggressive with each other at all. I also have a Dascyllus reticulatus that is about 2 1/2 inches long. The Dascyllus spends most of the day chasing the school of Chromis, which from this thread I believe helps the Chromis remain peaceful within their school. I have had all nine of the Chromis for two years now, never lost one. I really enjoy them, and the only thing I would enjoy more would be a large school of Anthias, which I will do if I ever get out of the planning stages and do a 300 gallon tank.

Dave

[Angel*Fish]

Originally posted by DaveBrader
Interesting thread.. I just ran across it tonight. I have 9 Green Chromis in my tank. I also feed them small amounts of brine shrimp five times a day, and they get the other two feedings when I feed the rest of the tank. They are not aggressive with each other at all. I also have a Dascyllus reticulatus that is about 2 1/2 inches long. The Dascyllus spends most of the day chasing the school of Chromis, which from this thread I believe helps the Chromis remain peaceful within their school. I have had all nine of the Chromis for two years now, never lost one. I really enjoy them, and the only thing I would enjoy more would be a large school of Anthias, which I will do if I ever get out of the planning stages and do a 300 gallon tank.

Dave

LOL -- That's the answer! We all need a big Dacscyllus to chase the chromis! Does he have time to pick on your other fish or do the chromis keep him busy?

Sounds pretty cool - would love some pictures

[DaveBrader]

The Dacscyllus is definitely a bully, a harmless bully, but a bully none the less. He has never hurt another fish, but he definitely chases all of them at one time or another. The only two fish the Dacscyllus doesn't bother at all are the Yellow Tang, and the Gold Stripe Maroon.

He is the worst when a new fish is introduced to the tank of course, but quickly gets used to them and for the most part protects his territory. The problem is he thinks his territory is about half the tank LMAO.

I have tried unsuccessfully several times to catch him and get him out of the tank, but now that I have read this thread, I think I may just let him carry on since he has never killed or harmed another fish. In a way, it is like owning a band of sheep, with a herding dog. The Dacscyllus seems to have a very strong opinion of how the other fish should behave, and "herds" them where he wants them.

Dave

[Fountainhead]

Old thread but I'll chime in. I added 7 green chromis a year or so ago. One died within days, but the other six were fine. They schooled immediately and swam around as one for about a month. Then, they ceased schooling and just decided to dart around independently. Six green chromis in a school is pretty neat. Six individual green chromis darting in and out of the rocks are boring at best, and irritating at worst.

When I noticed that they had taken to annoying the other inhabitants by darting after them (who then began darting after each other) I decided that enough was enough. I started removing them one by one as the opportunity presented itself. Seems mean I guess, but they were mean little fish. I'm down to one now and by himself he seems OK, so he gets to stay. But the overall stress level in the tank is certainly much better since his buddies got evicted.

[Bryan89]

Fountainhead - My recent experience echos yours. I have 3 blue reef chromis, which are supposed to be peaceful. The two bigger ones chased the slightly smaller and more timid third chromis out of my tank into my overflow. He is now in my QT and I am not sure how he'll do in a 40 gallon tank after being in my 400.

[Angel*Fish]

Six individual green chromis darting in and out of the rocks are boring at best, and irritating at worst. When I noticed that they had taken to annoying the other inhabitants by darting after them (who then began darting after each other)

This was also my experience they really were always aggravating the other fish

Fountainhead, looks like you've achieved the perfect balance Maybe instead of removing my aggressive bicolor anthias, I should have added a school of chromis....hmmm I like damsels under the right circumstances, BTW. I have 3 C. hemicyanea in my tank that are great fish. Active spawners, too.

Gotta love those maroon clowns - they don't take flack off of anybody

[jnarowe]

My maroon is really agressive with me, my tongs, and corals but leaves all the fish except the Scott's Fairy wrasse alone.

[dgasmd]

When I had my previous tank (550g system), I tried 12 twice and would end up with 4 each time. Not even with the same 4 the second time around. In my current 100g system, I added 18 of them and almost 18 months later I was down to 14. I recently added 4 more and they are all still there. These don't seem to squble with each other as the ones in my previous system. I even feed now 1/3 of what I used to back then! I think the key for the longer term sucess with this batch has been a couple of things:

1. Much bigger specimens to begin with. The ones I got this time around were huge compared to the small to average size I got before.

2. Much more room to roam around, although they do school inmy tank.

3. Companionship of other schooling small fish like anthias.

4. A lot more hiding and perching spots.

Other that this, and it may be a stretch, I couldn't tell you why these guys are doing so well this far out. If I find locally the larger ones again, I would 15-20 more!!