3 or 4 green chromis in a 40g?

[DanG]

I've got a 40g tank, a still kinda small maroon clown, a lawnmower blenny, a half dozen hermits, an emerald crab, a cleaner and 2 peppermint shrimp and a bunch of snails live in there now.
Would it be too high of a bio load to throw 3 or 4 chromis in there?

[Cap'n]

No, it wouldn't be too much of a bioload. However, you will eventually end up with a single chromis with an adult damsel attitude.

My advice is to go straight for the damsel, as long as your sure you want one in your tank.

[sumpfinfishe]

Adding fish for natural schooling is great if you have a very large tank, say a 240gl or higher. As mentioned, in most system's our tanks are too small for this purpose so you would be better off getting one chromis instead.

I like these fish and think they look great in reef tanks, unlike most other damsels. I had one in my reef for over four years and it never bothered a soul

[mr_alberta]

Chromis are nice, but I've never seen them school unless there was a much bigger fish in the tank with them to induce this behavior. If there aren't really any big fish, they just seem to swim around and do their own thing (like killing each other ).

[michika]

They're cute little guys. They'll school if they have the oppertunity and the space. I have a pair of blue and a pair of yellow and they school together. I know Ed_Holland also has about five or six blue and they school beautifully.

I do believe it is the space and current that will dictate if they school or not. 3 or 4 chromis may school. You do also have to make sure when your choosing your fish that your not picking the loner hanging out in the back, as that may also be a reason why they don't school in smaller tanks.

[DanG]

Hmm, no, I don't want anything with a damsel attitude in the tank, and certiantly don't want a bully. I'm sure my maroon could probably step up and be the boss, but I don't want to have to return another fish.

With 1 of them, do they usually stay fairly mellow?