Sick Chromis

[bangbang]

I have had a group of 8 chromis in my tank for more than 3 months. I hadn’t added any new fish since February, added a few corals though.

A couple of days ago, I saw 1 of them beaten up with red marks and torn fins.. It died the next day. Today I see another one showing the same symptoms.. Is this redness Uronema? Or is the redness due to aggression? I heard the saying that at the end only 1 Chromis is left.. I see 3 other chromis are hiding more and somehow I feel they all will have the same fate as the first one that died.

If it is uronema, can someone help explain how it only infected my fish after 100 days? Can coral bases be carriers of uronema? Does uronema cause ripped fins? Can I treat them or do anything to save them? @Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 thoughts?

 

[bangbang]

Couple of close up photos.. fish is breathing heavy and at the surface.. I have moved it to the sump to avoid any more aggression towards it in the night, though I doubt it will see the morning sun tomorrow.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Couple of close up photos.. fish is breathing heavy and at the surface.. I have moved it to the sump to avoid any more aggression towards it in the night, though I doubt it will see the morning sun tomorrow.

That’s not Uronema, it is aggression from some other fish. Often, green chromis fight with the weakest of the group, and when that one dies, they pick on the next one (the classic chicken pecking order).
This could also be from some other fish in the tank. What is the total tank fish inventory?

 

[bangbang]

didnt realize the Youtube video didnt work, here it is:

Thanks @Jay Hemdal.. Chromis died this morning.. I have never seen any aggression in front of me, but 2 deaths in a week makes me wonder if it's happening after lights go off.. Yes, 3 Chromis hiding does tell a story and suggests there is some aggression going on.. what's the best way to know who is the offender?

I got a lot of fish in the tank right now, copy pasting from my build thread:

1 Tomini tang
1 Blonde Naso
1 Orange shoulder juvenile yellow/orange
1 Marine betta
1 Midas blenny
2 golden head sleeper gobies
3 royal gammas
1 rosy scale wrasse sub male
1 juvenile lineatus wrasse
1 Katoi wrasse
1 Super male yellow coris
1 Radiant wrasse
1 Orange back wrasse
1 Magnificent foxface
2 aiptasia eating file fish
1 Flame angel
4 onyx true percula clowns
1 Watchman Goby
1 Pistol Shrimp and 1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Blue tang
4x Yellow Tangs (total 4 now)
6x Chromis (after 2 died)
3 Pajama Cardinals
1 Lawnmower Blenny

 

[exnisstech]

That's a lot of fish in a six foot tank, some that get large.
I've found keeping a group of chromis impossible for me. I tried groups of 7 twice and both times ended up with 1. I added 10 to my 330g a few months ago and the group is now six. I've had them long enough the most dominant one is at least twice the size of the smallest and I can predict it will be the next one to disappear. Then I assume the next smallest will be the one to disappear ans so on. I have plenty of rock and every one has their own spot to retreat to. It just seems the smallest one gives up and disappears and it continues. This will be my last attempt at a group. Im a 3 strikes and out guy.

 

[bangbang]

That's a lot of fish in a six foot tank, some that get large.
I've found keeping a group of chromis impossible for me. I tried groups of 7 twice and both times ended up with 1. I added 10 to my 330g a few months ago and the group is now six. I've had them long enough the most dominant one is at least twice the size of the smallest and I can predict it will be the next one to disappear. Then I assume the next smallest will be the one to disappear ans so on. I have plenty of rock and every one has their own spot to retreat to. It just seems the smallest one gives up and disappears and it continues. This will be my last attempt at a group. Im a 3 strikes and out guy.

Interestingly, the 2 that died were the biggest ones of the school.. they were in the initial batch of 5 that were with me for 7 months, I added 3 more in February, much smaller ones are still swimming in the open.. I see 3 other from original batch hiding in the rocks - so something is definitely cooking!

Chromis# 1:



Chromis# 2:

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Interestingly, the 2 that died were the biggest ones of the school.. they were in the initial batch of 5 that were with me for 7 months, I added 3 more in February, much smaller ones are still swimming in the open.. I see 3 other from original batch hiding in the rocks - so something is definitely cooking!

Chromis# 1:



Chromis# 2:

This still does look like tankmate aggression to me, with likely secondary bacterial infection on the damaged skin. The fish don't present as typical Uronema, but Uronema feeds on bacteria, so there could still be some issue with that mixed in. The typical Uronema infection seen in newly acquired green chromis is an internal infection and the fish look good except for the telltale red angled lesion on their side. They soon die, often with their mouths wide open.

p.s. - you have a LOT of different fish in that tank, I can't hazard a guess as to who the culprit(s) might be for aggression.....