Blue/Green Chromis

Matt_b · 11-04-2006, 05:41 PM

10 mths ago i added 5, a few months ago i lost my first which was the smallest and now i've lost another small chromis, so now only have 3.
I've done quite a bit of homework and it sounds like theres always a runt of the pack, another thing i've read about is its best to keep an odd number so maybe thats why i lost another??

i'd like to get my chromis numbers back up to 5 but wondering what size fish to buy?? bigger than my originals or smaller? I'd hate to buy bigger specimens just to put my smallest on death row

Would getting the same size be best? or smaller? or larger?

Tia

pastina · 11-04-2006, 06:06 PM

i would go with the same size
i have two, seems like they are a pair because they killed off all the other chromis...i kinda cant stand them lol

Matt_b · 11-04-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastina

i would go with the same size
i have two, seems like they are a pair because they killed off all the other chromis...i kinda cant stand them lol

I really do like my chromis, the way they glisten in the halide does it for me ( easily pleased!!)
I'm lead to believe that these fish are shoal fish so a pair seems wrong??

pastina · 11-04-2006, 06:43 PM

yeah i know about the schooling thing but tell that to my chromis
they will beat up and kill any other chromis that i put in with them, they fight with each other non stop. i dont think their peaceful fish at all, well to other fish yes but not to each other.
the first two months they were fine, i had five and they all schoaled together, then they paired off and all hell broke loose
now my cinnamon clown attacks them when they come near his coral which is a small area on one side of the tank. the clown beats the crap outta them that one is now blind in one eye and the other is always looking ratty. so they huddle on top of the power head looking like freaks, but ya think if they'd have half a brain they would go to the other side of the tank were the clown never ventures...just a dummy fish IMO
im counting the day til their demise so i can replace them with a normal outgoing fish

Matt_b · 11-04-2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastina

yeah i know about the schooling thing but tell that to my chromis
they will beat up and kill any other chromis that i put in with them, they fight with each other non stop. i dont think their peaceful fish at all, well to other fish yes but not to each other.
the first two months they were fine, i had five and they all schoaled together, then they paired off and all hell broke loose
now my cinnamon clown attacks them when they come near his coral which is a small area on one side of the tank. the clown beats the crap outta them that one is now blind in one eye and the other is always looking ratty. so they huddle on top of the power head looking like freaks, but ya think if they'd have half a brain they would go to the other side of the tank were the clown never ventures...just a dummy fish IMO
im counting the day til their demise so i can replace them with a normal outgoing fish

Thanks for the insight even though i'm a little shocked, my chromis seem the most placid out of the fish i keep! it seems the smallest has the hardest time then dies!

U sure you aint got blue damsels

gwaco · 11-04-2006, 07:52 PM

i don't know why you lost the two , maybe the larger ones were consuming most of the food you put in . or maybe those two were sick to begin with . i have a school of 5 , with all different sizes and although the larger will sometimes push the smaller ones around they still stay a school . even if i felt like adding more to build a larger school i wouldn't hesitate . you may have a couple of seperate schools develop but they won't be out to kill each other .

pastina · 11-04-2006, 07:57 PM

yeah their green chromis
there viscous with each other. the only time i see them swim is at feeding time
if you do a google you'll see its not too uncommon for green chromis to bully other chromis in the group which is why they say get them in odd numbers.
i wish they would have stayed in the school and didnt beat each other up because yeah they are very pretty fish
they are a damsel and even tho they are the most peaceful of damsels they still have that damsel trait

Matt_b · 11-04-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwaco

i don't know why you lost the two , maybe the larger ones were consuming most of the food you put in . or maybe those two were sick to begin with . i have a school of 5 , with all different sizes and although the larger will sometimes push the smaller ones around they still stay a school . even if i felt like adding more to build a larger school i wouldn't hesitate . you may have a couple of seperate schools develop but they won't be out to kill each other .

Thanks Gwaco, maybe you 'hit the nail on the head' as i've been cutting down on food through a algae bloom BUT still enough food for my stock ( i think??)

When i feed the tank it seems everyone gets a feed but to come home and find a chromis stuck to the intake of my tunze is horrible!!

Matt_b · 11-04-2006, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastina

yeah their green chromis
there viscous with each other. the only time i see them swim is at feeding time
if you do a google you'll see its not too uncommon for green chromis to bully other chromis in the group which is why they say get them in odd numbers.
i wish they would have stayed in the school and didnt beat each other up because yeah they are very pretty fish
they are a damsel and even tho they are the most peaceful of damsels they still have that damsel trait

Thanks for the info Pastina, i'm a newbie and most of the text!! i've gathered seems wrong, appreciate your input my friend

Matt

Mike01z · 11-04-2006, 09:51 PM

I had 5, lost 2 to a fight with an Angel believe or not, other 3 have been fine since and they are all pretty passive.

110galreef · 11-04-2006, 10:39 PM

I had three long ago...then had two......they coexisted as two for about a year or so and never bothered each other or other fishes. I tried to add two more later (little compared to the two) for whatever reason the two new ones died in a short time. The two I put into a nano a little while back.

I just ordered some more for my 110. I have 6 now and they school and seem to get along w/ everyone perfectly! I really love having the school in my tank.

Adds Nice sparkle and color!

pastina · 11-05-2006, 08:41 AM

i must have mentally challenged chromis

as for you non believers heres a link to a site that gives other peoples experiences with green chromis. they can be bullies to each other NOT to other fish. maybe they do this at a certain age or size. mine are large almost 2" fish. keep in mind they are a damsel and damsels get more aggressive as they mature

http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_cviridis.php

110galreef · 11-05-2006, 08:58 AM

Every creature of SW, never follows the rule......

I had a Blue tank...very widely accepted as "REEFF SAFE".....well he turned on me after about 2 yeas and started eating zoo's daily and was making fast work of them!

You never know how something will act until you get it.....even then you don't know cause they may still turn on you!

I had a clown too that was great for about 2.5 years....then he decided to stir the sand up and knock over corals and Large rocks at his discretion!

Needless to saythey are both gone now!

110galreef · 11-05-2006, 09:00 AM

Pastrina what size tank were yours in......I think size has alot to do w/ aggression and teritorialness (if that is a word)

pastina · 11-05-2006, 09:02 AM

there in the 55 gallon
the only time i get to see them act like normal fish is at feeding time