Chromis. Bother or not bother?

[rayadog]

I'm a fan of having enough rock so every fish in the tank can have it's own spot to call theirs. They needed a place to bed down and feel safe. I have one that beds down in my blue ridge.

That was the plan, a forest of branches for all to hide but un-automated dosing is eating my patience for coral growth.

 

[Daniel Doherty]

I picked up 3 tiny little ones from petco 4 years ago or so. They are huge now and are model citizens. I love the way they shoal together and squabble a bit right before lights out. Chromis veridis and Chromis atripectoralis are awesome.

Is there any pros/ cons to either one?

 

[Daniel Doherty]

Trying to stock the 75 gal reef with more fish and different color. Every post I happened to read was “had this many now have this many”; with the oddly common numbers being 4 or 5 after settled for a bit; or 1 lol. Blue or green doesn’t matter but the latter is affordable in bulk.

Seems like once they get bigger is when they grow more aggressive towards each other; with a few rare cases just being out right aggressive. I was also looking at fusilier damsels but same story it seems. What are the opinions today?

I have 2 benggais and a yellow wrasse. I’m at peaceful level and would like to keep it peaceful. Also would appreciate not dosing Nitrates. Among the “peaceful” options there’s not many different colors.

I’ve been researching doing this aswell. Maybe look into bluestreak cardinals. They are one of the only schooling fish that don’t kill each other off. I know there’s a chance chromis and anthias won’t do it but you know what I mean. David saxby has load in his and they look fantastic darting in and out of his gorgonians and sps. Add in a few springeri damsels and you’ll still have plenty of blue, with much less issues.

In saying that, I have not done this myself, as I’ve just got velvet, and have also gone down the route of a French Polynesian biotope.

 

[jmcdona6]

I don’t doubt this. Where would you trust? My LFS has a big tank rn, so would save me shipping. My fish are from my lfs too. But dr. Reef and reefbeauties have some too.

Ordered mine from Dr. Reef. Reasonable pricing, quarantined and he seems to have a good source that is low chance of uronema. Ordered 7. He sent 8. One looked stressed out the bag and disappeared shortly after. Another was solo from the others for a week or so then disappeared. The remaining 6 have been rock solid.

 

[Daniel Doherty]

I don’t doubt this. Where would you trust? My LFS has a big tank rn, so would save me shipping. My fish are from my lfs too. But dr. Reef and reefbeauties have some too.

Ordered mine from Dr. Reef. Reasonable pricing, quarantined and he seems to have a good source that is low chance of uronema. Ordered 7. He sent 8. One looked stressed out the bag and disappeared shortly after. Another was solo from the others for a week or so then disappeared. The remaining 6 have been rock solid.

For how long?

 

[exnisstech]

That was the plan, a forest of branches for all to hide but un-automated dosing is eating my patience for coral growth.

That's a plan but unfortunately fish need a place to hide and waiting for coral to grow in to provided habitat for them may not be best. No hiding spots causes stress which can cause all types of issues even disease and death. JMO

 

[jmcdona6]

I don’t doubt this. Where would you trust? My LFS has a big tank rn, so would save me shipping. My fish are from my lfs too. But dr. Reef and reefbeauties have some too.

Ordered mine from Dr. Reef. Reasonable pricing, quarantined and he seems to have a good source that is low chance of uronema. Ordered 7. He sent 8. One looked stressed out the bag and disappeared shortly after. Another was solo from the others for a week or so then disappeared. The remaining 6 have been rock solid.

For how long?

My six have been around 3-4 months. There is another guy that has had them close to a year I know. Dr. Reef also gave a guy on the forum a free shoal sample and has had a grrat experience.

However, I think everyone should enter into the Chromis business knowing they arent ever going to be forever fish. I figure if you can get 2-3 years of shoal before having to do a refresh you did well.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I have 5 from Dr. Reef in my 90. They are always in the upper part of the tank schooling in open water. They get mysis and tiny pellets daily.

 

[JumboShrimp]

IMO, Chromis will make a fool of YOU... you will never make a fool of THEM. Lol.

. "Just say 'No' to Chromis"

 

[Tahoe61]

I have 3 yellow tail damsels, and 1 clown now. Every time I tried chromis, within months one killed off the other chromis, or Uronema took them out.
The yellow tails are aggressive, going as far to bite me but given hiding spots they tend to work it out amoung themselves.

 

[Red_Beard]

Is there any pros/ cons to either one?

I think the black axles are a little prettier, but other than that theyve both been great.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I had 7 Chalk Bass in a 150 gallon; my Chromis alternative.

 

[dangles]

I don’t doubt this. Where would you trust? My LFS has a big tank rn, so would save me shipping. My fish are from my lfs too. But dr. Reef and reefbeauties have some too.

I got an order from Dr. Reef. Cannot recommend him enough. Excellent experience and excellent livestock. I did a write up here about it. I’ll edit my post if I can go back and find it. This would be my recommendation.

Found it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dr-reef-quarantined-chromis-a-review.1086027/

 

[rayadog]

I had 7 Chalk Bass in a 150 gallon; my Chromis alternative.

Ah yes I’d be happy with those. I don’t see them a lot, LFS keeps getting tobaccos. I think I mainly never went with one because I could hear the in house critic already. “Oh that’s not very colorful.” But I always have the say.

 

[rayadog]

That's a plan but unfortunately fish need a place to hide and waiting for coral to grow in to provided habitat for them may not be best. No hiding spots causes stress which can cause all types of issues even disease and death. JMO

For sure will have to add some rocks in this case. Just weighing everything before I take action.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Actually, when the light hits them and the 'blue' in them shows, you might be surprised.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They are best in odd numbers but my daughter has 4 who get along just fine

 

[exnisstech]

Actually, when the light hits them and the 'blue' in them shows, you might be surprised.

They're really nice looking top down on them. Now I know why they're called Blue Green chromis. And not just green. Top down shows a beautiful blue that I don't see in a side view.

 

[JumboShrimp]

(In my response I meant the Chalk Bass-- I should have said that.)

 

[rayadog]

I’ve been researching doing this aswell. Maybe look into bluestreak cardinals. They are one of the only schooling fish that don’t kill each other off. I know there’s a chance chromis and anthias won’t do it but you know what I mean. David saxby has load in his and they look fantastic darting in and out of his gorgonians and sps. Add in a few springeri damsels and you’ll still have plenty of blue, with much less issues.

Those are hard to find in stock as well. Best I can find lately is the red cardinalfish which, by review, I guess I’ll never see. Main goal is to add literally a handful of peaceful fish while simultaneously getting some color; but not the biggest priority. I’m not familiar with the springeri damsels. I always thought about adding an azure down the line as they tend to be pretty tame; or a clown but just as likely to be semi aggressive I think.