Is it acceptable to put a group of these bad boys (about 4 or 5) in a tank? I've heard that they pick on the weakest one and don't school well in an aquarium setting that is 120 gallons. I would like to hear some thoughts?
Blue/Green Reef Chromis
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IMO... yes, you can add a group that size... yes they do pick on the weaker one but, one trick I do is to feed them a lot in the beginning, seems to make them a bit less aggressive towards one another.
lets get you additional POV [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]
lets get you additional POV [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]
Kworker
Tang Lover
I've had luck with groups of 4-6 for about 6-12 months that usually somehow get down to 2 without any noticeable aggression. It seems that chromis "pair" up for me, which happened in two separate tanks of mine around the same time and been that way for over a year now. I think you would need a dozen or more with multiple feedings a day to really allow a good pecking order to be established. Just my opinion.
kschweer
Moderator
I agree, it's very hit or miss when it comes to them staying together or turning on one another. But like stated about try keeping them well fed. Fish that are well fed a correct diet seem to be less aggressive in my experience.
Mrezy33
New Member
When I add fish to my DT I feed the other first then add the new ones just before lights out. This gives them time to adjust to the new surroundings in the ambient twilight. I believe this way reduces territorial behavior of the existing fish.
Thank you guys that's very helpful! I always wanted a group of them they are so amazing in a group just that bright blueish green is spectacular! I'll definitely take all this into account when I get them. Thank you again!
I have one in my 45 gallon.If you intend to put him with fish smaller than him then introduce them at the same time.I got two little silver guys about a week later than the green chromis and he bit their tails off.Their was a silver one that was the same size as him and they are fine together and both still alive.
WindeyD
Active Member
I have had the same one for two years now, any attempt to have more has failed as the dominant individual will bully the others until they slowly starve to death. They are billed in many places as very gentle but mine holds its own against my female clown who is by far the dominant fish in my system.
PaulKreider
Valuable Member
I put 7 in at first, they were small, and they were rather weak, they dropped by the day probably due to shipping stress, but eventually I was left with 3, these 3 eventually picked each other off...
But then I added in 5 hand netted from fiji, they were a big bigger but so far they've done much better... This was 2 months ago and I'm down to 3 now. My coworker also put in 5 but hes down to 1 now.
They're just a finicky fish in general, but I agree beautiful. They definitely seem to be less aggressive when I feed 3 times a day.
But then I added in 5 hand netted from fiji, they were a big bigger but so far they've done much better... This was 2 months ago and I'm down to 3 now. My coworker also put in 5 but hes down to 1 now.
They're just a finicky fish in general, but I agree beautiful. They definitely seem to be less aggressive when I feed 3 times a day.
I always have chromis, have had several groupings in different tanks over the years.
My longest running were the same 6 for 6 years, only lost them due to a heater failure during a swap.
My longest running were the same 6 for 6 years, only lost them due to a heater failure during a swap.
STL
Active Member
I started with two; they were fighting and one was being starved out. Upon LFS advice, I added a third larger one. The third killed off the other two and became a major nuisance. It bothered pretty much all the fish, including much larger tangs. It harassed a blue throat triggerfish to the point he lost his male colors.
I could not catch this fish by net or trap. And with 180 gallons of a nicely aquascaped tank, taking the rock out to catch 'em wasn't really practical. So, I used "the mirror" when it was on an aggressive streak and that would settle it down a bit. Eventually it jumped into the glass beaker I use to thaw fish food - wanted to be first to the food. Heh, gotcha you stupid fish - one way trip to the quarantine tank.
With the chromis out of the picture, I have a very peaceful mellow crew including a very brightly colored male blue throat triggerfish.
So, yeah, many individuals may be ok but beware this species is a damsel relative and you could end up with a little terrorist in your tank.
I could not catch this fish by net or trap. And with 180 gallons of a nicely aquascaped tank, taking the rock out to catch 'em wasn't really practical. So, I used "the mirror" when it was on an aggressive streak and that would settle it down a bit. Eventually it jumped into the glass beaker I use to thaw fish food - wanted to be first to the food. Heh, gotcha you stupid fish - one way trip to the quarantine tank.
With the chromis out of the picture, I have a very peaceful mellow crew including a very brightly colored male blue throat triggerfish.
So, yeah, many individuals may be ok but beware this species is a damsel relative and you could end up with a little terrorist in your tank.
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
I had three damsels in my QT, one was killed by another one. I couldn't figure out the aggression at the time. When I finally placed the remaining two into my DT (big mistake), I realized that one was male and one was female. That is probably why the 3rd one was killed, most likely another male. When the female got pregnant, the male went all sorts of crazy and began bullying other tank mates many times his size. There was no getting them out of the tank, so once the mating thing stopped (for now), things settled down. Thank God there was no way any of the babies would survive in my system, it's not designed for breeding. Plus, my other fish stopped taking the damsels crap and showed him who is boss! He is the only fish who has the nerve to bite me when my hands are in the tank! If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't have bought them. Though beautiful, they are little terrorists!
