Clarification on the Green Chromis

[sherb]

I'm slowly but steadily stocking my new 40B. The only fishy inhabitants so far is a pair of teenaged maroon clowns. I've also got a skunk cleaner, a small CU crew, and 50 lbs of live rock + hitchhikers.

Next up I have my eye on some Green Chromis, which I think would fit in with where I'm going (smaller fish for a reef-safe community) and add some color. I know GCs are schooling, so I'll need a group. Would three be okay in a 40 gallon, or would they need more room? Or would the group need to be bigger? The advice on fishlore, etc seems to be murky on exactly what is best for them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

3-5 is good BUT. . . one caution:
Examine them well for normal breathing, any skin abrasions which leads to uronema and ask to see them eat.

 

[X-37B]

3-5 is good BUT. . . one caution:
Examine them well for normal breathing, any skin abrasions which leads to uronema and ask to see them eat.

100% Agree.
I have 6 blue green going on 1.5 years now.
Also note they grow fast.
My convict tang keeps them inline.

 

[sherb]

Right - it's only 40 gallons, so it seems easy to get stuck with a de facto species tank as the fish grow and I want to avoid that. I'm after a variety of smaller fish.

@vetteguy53081 said "ask to see them eat" - are they picky eaters, or is there a specific food they do best with?

 

[X-37B]

They will eat almost anything.
It is to make sure they are healthy.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Right - it's only 40 gallons, so it seems easy to get stuck with a de facto species tank as the fish grow and I want to avoid that. I'm after a variety of smaller fish.

@vetteguy53081 said "ask to see them eat" - are they picky eaters, or is there a specific food they do best with?

Theyre hardy. If not eating, may denote an issue. Just assure theyre eating in general

 

[Auflyfish]

I got a school of 5 about a week ago for my 55 gal, very fun fish, they have plenty of room and tons of fun to watch. When I went to the LFS they had a few tanks of chromis and I’d have to agree with watching them. A few seemed to be breathing rapidly or even had some noticeable scale issues. I found this to be a common theme among chromis. The guy that I normally get fish from also said get 1-2 over what you ultimately want to have in the tank long term because as a “pecking order” is established you can lose 1-2 of them. I don’t know how true that is though

 

[Wolf89]

I'd go with at least 5. I would try to feed at least 2x a day or they might pick each other off.

 

[josephxsxn]

I always hear of people having problems with keeping Chromis alive. In my experience they need to be treated like anthias in terms of feeding, doing this I never lost one for years. They are a very high energy fish that for some reason is never mentioned does best with multiple feedings per day.