Green chromis are murderous savages!

[JollyReefer]

Who the heck decided that green chromis have peaceful temperaments? Every time I look away another chromis has been brutally killed by one of its own kind. My school of eleven is now a school of six. It’s only been a week or so. If you want a school of fish, go with anthias. Chromis are vicious killers.

 

[Reefer5640]

I didn’t the same thing. I now have one left

 

[408Dartfish]

I started with 5 from live aquaria beginning of May and still have 5. One had half a tail for about a month. They do battle but not much maybe I got some decent peaceful ones. Dustin

 

[Cment]

Who the hell decided that green chromis have peaceful temperaments? Every time I look away another chromis has been brutally killed by one of its own kind. My school of eleven is now a school of six. It’s only been a week or so. If you want a school of fish, go with anthias. Chromis are vicious killers.

very common with these guys...if you're not doing so already, try feeding multiple times a day which can help keep some of the aggression at bay.

 

[davocean]

It's weird to me so many have this happen w/ these guys.
I've had several groupings exist years together just fine, one group of 6 for 6 years.
I'm not the only one by far keeping them long term, but I do see these posts pretty often.
I do keep anthia and give multiple feedings, not sure if that matters or not, the 6 year group were long before I did anthia or multiple feedings.

 

[norfolkgarden]

It's weird to me so many have this happen w/ these guys.
I've had several groupings exist years together just fine, one group of 6 for 6 years.
I'm not the only one by far keeping them long term, but I do see these posts pretty often.
I do keep anthia and give multiple feedings, not sure if that matters or not, the 6 year group were long before I did anthia or multiple feedings.

Lol, just guessing, you have a 100 gallon or bigger tank.

You have a place in the corals for them to hang out/hide/sleep in.

You have some larger fish that annoys them and helps them band together.

You feed a lot, or at least multiple times a day.

All of these seem to contribute to success with a school (shoal) of fish.

Glad it is something we can still realistically strive for.
[emoji4]

 

[davocean]

I have a 12og, I don't think that's a big tank really, and as stated earlier I did not feed a lot w previous 6 group.
I focus on anemone's, so I don't really have much sps, not enough to hide in, but some rock work I guess, but really they hang out in open usually, often w/ anthia.
This is just my experience, just sharing info.

 

[Mark344]

Who the hell decided that green chromis have peaceful temperaments? Every time I look away another chromis has been brutally killed by one of its own kind. My school of eleven is now a school of six. It’s only been a week or so. If you want a school of fish, go with anthias. Chromis are vicious killers.

So thats why I only have 1 left. I added 5 last friday and by monday only 1 left the original one i have fir 2 years.

 

[DangerDave]

I dunno, my 7 blue green and 4 blue reef have been model citizens for the last year....

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

I have a 240 gallon and I started with 7 blue green chromies and they are still happily a family. I’m not quite sure why mine are so peaceful with each other. I have noticed that if they do chase etc my Lt. Tang literally goes after the aggressor, every time. When my female clown was harassing my new bellus angel lol the Lt tang went after the clown also. She I guess thought she was the new queen of
The tank, ahhh nope. He tail slapped almost out of the tank and ran her down and almost had a snack. It’s really strange because I have a mixed reef, tons of coral and pretty big tank. I feed daily, so that helps and I always have some seaweed hanging in there.

I’m sorry it’s not been pleasant with them, they lol seem peaceful for me. Maybe put some mirrors up if you put more in, where the aggressor chases or attacks himself.’

 

[norfolkgarden]

I have a 12og, I don't think that's a big tank really, and as stated earlier I did not feed a lot w previous 6 group.
I focus on anemone's, so I don't really have much sps, not enough to hide in, but some rock work I guess, but really they hang out in open usually, often w/ anthia.
This is just my experience, just sharing info.

Thank you.
[emoji4]

I am always looking for more info from people who have done it successfully.

Chromis were one of my worst fails in terms of 6 becomes just 1.

What I posted earlier has been some of the common points from reading of other successful people.

Thank you for the info.
[emoji4]

 

[eatbreakfast]

I've had success with groups in tanks smaller than 100g, so that also means no large fish with them.

I attribute it to frequent feedings and high flow.

 

[BestMomEver]

I’ve always been told that most chromis groups, no matter the size, will be reduced by half because of their aggression towards each other. I started with five and now have three. I think the “peaceful “ title is because they typically leave other species alone unlike their damsel cousins.

 

[ca1ore]

You have to feed green chromis like anthias: multiple times per day. They also need space, either in terms of tank size, an open aquascape or lots of flow. Then you have a chance for a group.

 

[YellowFinsReef]

I keep a group of blue green chromis (28). I feed them like crazy 5-6x per day. They're pretty peaceful with me.

I did started out with 40, but half died in the first week.

 

[acro-ed]

@norfolkgarden nailed it above.

I had several Chromis in my 60g and they did fine for about a year and then picked each other off.

I had a bunch in my 150g and they lasted about 2 years and it was when I backed off feeding to help with high nitrates that they picked each other off.

I now have 13 in a 300g and haven't lost a single one (yet) over several months. I feed multiple times per day, and my convict does what I call "bowling for chromis"... he waits until they are in a ball and blows up the ball; then they scatter and regroup. They also have a bunch of acro heads to sleep in and retreat to. All of these factors I believe will yield continued success with the school of chromis.

-Ed

 

[davocean]

I think another issue to keep in mind is they seem to be vulnerable to uronema, and also they are cheap and often poorly shipped fish it seems, and this can add to issues of losing them.
Definitely QT them.

I have 7 in my 120g, nearly 4 months so far so good, no losses.

 

[nereefpat]

I think the whole "schooling/shoaling" thing is one of the biggest misconceptions in this hobby. It rarely, if ever, happens in a hobbyist's tank.

Some species can be kept in groups. That doesn't mean they like each other, but rather, tolerate each other...if they have enough food or space. This includes chromis.

I love to read threads with potential stock lists, because I love fish and fishtanks. It allows us to share information and even dream about tanks. However, every time I see a stock list for a smallish tank that includes 3-7 chromis, I think, "That probably won't work like you hope it will."

 

[JollyReefer]

Good info. Thanks to all those who have replied. My DT is 210 gallons, and I feed twice a day. Maybe I'll have to up the feeding to increase the likelihood of survival for the remaining chromis in this dog-eat-dog world.

 

[Mr. Limpid]

Lol, just guessing, you have a 100 gallon or bigger tank.

You have a place in the corals for them to hang out/hide/sleep in.

You have some larger fish that annoys them and helps them band together.

You feed a lot, or at least multiple times a day.

All of these seem to contribute to success with a school (shoal) of fish.

Glad it is something we can still realistically strive for.
[emoji4]

I think you have a good theory there about having larger fish that annoys them. I had 12 in a 135gal, but they were the first fish in and they killed each other off within 6 months and the last won died after the last battle. He won the battle but lost the war.