3 New Chromis / 3 Dead Chromis

[rudy3]

Chromis are some of my favorite marine fish, went to my LFS yesterday, purchased 3 to add to my school of 5. Woke up this morning to 3 (or maybe 4, havent found the 4th though) dead on the sand bed. these are the first fish loses i have had since my old tanks seams split (thank you to those who told me so) more than 4 months ago. everyone else seems to be happy hand healthy, no lack of hiding spots, no gasping, no disease. i cannot confirm if any of the remaining 5 (or 4) are from the 3 added yesterday.

I know that chromis tend to pick eachother off, but one day seems to be really fast, and when i put them in after acclimation, they were all schooling great. Any constructive comments are welcome! Thank you!

Edit: found the 4th dead. So i have lost more than ive added.

 

[Cell]

Did you quarantine?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Green chromis, right?

Do you know the salinity/specific gravity that they were in at the LFS compared to your tank?

Jay

 

[rudy3]

Did you quarantine?

No, currently not setup to do so.

 

[rudy3]

Green chromis, right?

Do you know the salinity/specific gravity that they were in at the LFS compared to your tank?

Jay

Correct, Blue/Green Chromis
LFS stated 1.026, i am currently at 1.025

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Correct, Blue/Green Chromis
LFS stated 1.026, i am currently at 1.025

Good, I just wanted to rule out osmotic shock (lots of dealers keep their tanks below 1.020).

To be honest - I've stopped acquiring SE Asian green chromis, the mortality rate is simply unacceptable. It worsened during Covid (presumably due to the longer supply chain) and it never really got better. The only green chromis I'll get now would be from Australia, East Africa or Fiji - I won't get them from the Philippines or Indonesia.

Of course, that doesn't account for the fourth one you lost.


Jay

 

[vtecintegra]

Chromis, in my opinion, are one of the riskiest fish you can buy. They are like little Uronema factories. I wouldn't put one in my tank without a minimum 90 day QT.

 

[rudy3]

ok, i have a nano that i can get a heater and hob for, ill setup for QT. i have been lucky to avoid uronema so far.

 

[Super Fly]

From my experience Chromis have very high mortality rate after bringing them home from LFS. The pre-existing chromis in ur tank probably killed them off after lights out and the 4th one was a causulty from one of the established chromis during the fight.

IMO Chromis behave like Tangs and any new comer is not welcome by those who have already established territory... I don't believe it would be possible to add new additions to ur established school of 4. I personally love them but have to force myself to not buy them whenever I see them at LFS bc they inevitably kill each other off until only 1 is left.