Green Chromis questions...

[saltwater_wannabe]

I bought 3 Chromis and a Sexy Shrimp last weekend and within a day one of the Chromis died. It was expected because he didn't look as good as the other two. He ate really well, but afterwards he would retreat to the top of the tank next to the powerhead.

I had 2 really good looking Chromis left, both playing together in the the streams of the powerheads. I came home last night to find one of them missing. I did a quick search and found the Brittle Star having a quick snack. I mourned the loss and fed the last remaining Chromis before going to bed.

My water parameters are really good, but I was only feeding them Frozen Mysis Shrimp every other day based on LFS advice. Did I starve these fish? Do they requiremore than just Mysis to survive?

Any help would be great. I want to pick up a few more, but I need some more infor before I do.

[Geoff]

green chromis are an interesting little critter. when small they are difficult to keep. they are planktonivores so they need to be feed fairly often when small. when they get bigger than they can handle a normal feeding schedule. i bought 5 and now only have 4.

the first one that died, that can just happen. the one i lost was eating also, i guess just not enough compared to the others. GBS are known fish predators so this will aways be a problem.

sounds like you are feeding them a good mix, it may just be needed more often.

G~

[saltwater_wannabe]

Originally posted by Geoff
they are planktonivores so they need to be feed fairly often when small.

I'm feeding Marine Snow once a week for our Feather Dusters. Will they graze on that as well, or is it a different kind of plankton they're after?

[Geoff]

that is prolly to small. they eat zooplankton more than phytoplankton.

you may just need to feed a couple of times a week, just very small amounts. just enough to get some food in them for a couple of days.

G~

[Geoff]

planktonivore pretty much is used for any critter that eats small things floating in the water column. they do not actively hunt food, they just wait for something that can fit in their mouth to come floating by.

G~

[saltwater_wannabe]

I noticed that the other day. My wife was mowing the caulerpa (I love that woman) and a few little "grapes" were floating around the tank. I noticed the Chromis chasing it around the tank. I don't know if they ate it, but they sure were interested.