Blue reef Chromis? Any input?

[Frtdrmrose7]

im looking to add a group of fish but don’t want a bunch of bullies. I saw these guys listed as peaceful. Any opinions on the Blue Reef Chromis? Should I buy an odd or even number? Do they pick each other off over time? Do they stay peaceful? I’m thinking either 5 or 6 of them for my 150G reef.

Current stock
PBT
Dominoe clown
Snowflake clown
Randall’s shrimp goby
Ruby Head Fairy wrasse
Yellow and purple wrasse
Timor Wrasse (still in QT)

 

[EmdeReef]

They tend to come sick IME so make sure to run them through full QT. I’ve lost most due to disease.

I wouldn’t consider them peaceful and have personally never been able to keep more than 1 long term. If you have lots of branching acros I guess a group would work.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

They tend to come sick IME so make sure to run them through full QT. I’ve lost most due to disease.

I wouldn’t consider them peaceful and have personally never been able to keep more than 1 long term. If you have lots of branching acros I guess a group would work.

Ugh, yes I QT everything and especially being Chromis I’m assuming one will have Uronema. So they do pick each other off over time? Any suggestions for a peaceful fish I can keep in a group?

 

[Mike N]

I've got 3 chromis in my tank. My clowns picked on them for a day then left them alone for the most part. They stick together as a group.. only drawback I can see is that they eat SO MANY PODS. My poor mandarin isn't much of a fan of them.

 

[EmdeReef]

They tend to come sick IME so make sure to run them through full QT. I’ve lost most due to disease.

I wouldn’t consider them peaceful and have personally never been able to keep more than 1 long term. If you have lots of branching acros I guess a group would work.

Depends how big is your tank too. I have 3 chromis ( 2 monster sized and a regular blue green) but they don’t hang out as a group. Literally avoid each other and hang as far as possible will chase each other whenever close.

Not sure about blue reefs picking each other or dying of some disease or issue honestly. I’ve tried several times and every time got sick fish, I treated and then all or 2 would die days after introducing to my DT... for some reason at least for me don’t seem to do well. I don’t have uronema in my DT.

@eatbreakfast will probably be able to provide best insight

 

[Webslinger]

Start with many and will usually end up with one survivor. The larger the tank the better.

 

[AquaLifeStudio]

Since mid October, I have 4 and theyve been together through QT and are now are in the Main Display. A 220 gallon tank provides quite a bit of room and they definitely use it. Three of them tend to stick together and the fourth is separate from that group, probably as it was introduced almost two weeks behind the others.

They are not always peaceful amongst their own, they do chase eachother from time to time but I would consider that normal with conspecifics. That fourth one does get bullied but has it's own hiding spot to get away.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Blue reef chromis ship terribly. Most die in a couple of days.

Consider a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish for a social fish instead.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Dispar anthias are pretty peaceful amongst themselves... but anthias are not exactly easy to get through QT. And need multiple daily feedings, so good nutrient removal system is a must. I've heard/read that Chalk Bass can be kept in small groups, but I've never tried it. I've seen them in my LFS... quite underrated IMO, the blue and red is very striking.

 

[Captain Quint]

The Blue Reef Chromis is a bit mean.

 

[Reefpuck]

The blue reef chromis don't seem as hardy as other more typical chromis...IME.

 

[Jesterrace]

Blue reef chromis ship terribly. Most die in a couple of days.

Consider a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish for a social fish instead.

Agreed, they are much better schooling fish for captivity.

 

[Fishnut]

My blue reef was fine for a year and mixed in well with my 5 blue greens chromis, but he grew faster then the others and became a no stop terror. I will never get another.