Sick chromis?

dmbedard · #1 03/25/2003, 09:28 AM

I have a 29 gal. reef tank with (in order of their acquisition) 3 green chromis, 1 orchid dottyback, 1 bar goby and 1 coral beauty angel. Since adding the Coral Beauty, one of my green chromis hangs out in the top corner of the tank, has lost coloration and does not seem "happy". His fellow chromis come over to him and seem to try to nudge him into swimming with them, which he does occasionally, but mostly he just hangs out in the top corner of the tank. The fish are all heathy and my water has been tested by the pet store. The fish does not appear to have any signs of illness, but is obviously not feeling well.

Can anyone help with what I should do? Should I take him out of the tank or get something to shield him from the rest of the fish?

He seems to be ok physically... he eats a bit, looks a little thin to me... his fins are intact, although one is slightly ragged.

I wonder if he is stressed from the new (Coral Beauty) fish, who is much more aggressive than any of my other fish, chasing the others about, but I do not know what to do for the poor little guy.

Newflee · #2 03/29/2003, 02:47 AM

If you don't want to remove the chromis, you might want to add a few more chromis. They are a schooling species and do much better if kept in larger numbers.

billsreef · #3 03/30/2003, 08:14 AM

In small tanks they often start having terrortorial squables. That nudging by his "buddies" isn't trying to help him, it's harrassing him. Due the small size of your tank and high fish load already I'd suggest finding the stressed damsel a new home.

Newflee · #4 03/30/2003, 09:22 AM

True enough, The last thing you need is the misfortune of having additional community unrest. While I find chromis to be the least territorial damsel species, a 30 gallon tank makes for a tight little world and any aggression will be magnified as you are seeing currently. Also, recently my shipments of small chromis( and all other species) from several importers have been especially hit hard with disease and installing several new fish without a quarantine proceedure would be like playing Russian Roulette with the gun fully loaded.

dmbedard · #5 03/30/2003, 09:29 AM

Thank you for your insight and suggestions. I have spoken to my LFS and they will take him back and put him in their larger tanks. He can go to a newer, happier home.

I will take him back today.

Thanks again for your help!

Diane

billsreef · #6 03/31/2003, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Newflee
Also, recently my shipments of small chromis( and all other species) from several importers have been especially hit hard with disease

I've been seeing a lot of this myself the last couple of years

Also a lot of flukes in the past year on a wide variety fish.

Newflee · #7 03/31/2003, 11:24 PM

Yes flukes have been a big problem, although not in the last year or so for me. It is because of them that we now Freshwater dip everything that comes in and it seems to work well. I had to treat a 41000 gallon aquarium with Praziquantel because of the pests and the drug alone cost $5000.00 so dipping is cheap in comparison. Lately oodinium has been crazy and I suspect the hobby has lost many potential enthusiasts as a result.

billsreef · #8 03/31/2003, 11:42 PM

FW dips do indeed work well on flukes, I've been dipping all new imports myself for these. Been fortunate not have seen much Amyloodinium lately in my supplies