Where do the damn things go??

[Cap'n]

Originally Posted by cptclever

I tried schools of chromis twice. Quite successful.

First time I got 3, soon down to 2. They lasted for many, many months. Thought two really wasn't a school so I eventually added 2 more. They looked the same size when I was in the store but when I got them home it was obvious they were much bigger. They bullied the original 2 into hiding most of the time until I saw them no more. Down to 2 again. They are always together, get along great. Must be close to a year now that I have had them. If I hadn't pressed my luck I bet I would still have the original 2.

I would like to post the following slight revision to my initial statement.

I tried small schools of chromis (3 to 4 fish) twice with no success. It seems to me that if there is not a large enough population to spread the aggression around then one single fish becomes the target. This continues until a pair or a single, dominant fish remains. I consider myself lucky that I have a happy couple.

[kari]

Originally Posted by Canadian Man

YUP along with Alan's most recent 2

That carpet sure eats good.

As for the green fish, same story here. Had 5 when tank was new and only one original left 5 years later. Lives in a bird's nest. Looks very natural

[MitchM]

I've had 5 chromis for over a year now.
Lots of squabbling, no deaths.

Mitch

[Jaws]

What size tanks are you putting your 5 chromis in? Large/Small?

[MitchM]

72L x 22H x 30W, with an open top.

Mitch

[Stirfry]

my theory with not much to back this up with but i do have evidence and i have also studied them for a while

they have almost a want to play with anenome's and the problem is(and they dont know this) but they have no potective mucas so they dont survive long.

i have also seen them get "stuck" in rock and corals just like triggers like to do but when they try to get out they cant

and a few other small thing that are in my "theory"(which means it might not be right)

might help??

let me know??

[Seamonkey]

Hi Brad,

My 6 yellowtail damsals are house in the 45 gal reef with a sixline wrass, 2 clowns with anenome, yellow watchman gobie a royal gramma, 2 hermit crabs and a cleaner shrimp. ( It amazes me that the anenome has never eaten anything in the tank, except the odd krill I hand feed it once in a while) how do they survive in the wild!!

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

Hi Brad,

My 6 yellowtail damsals are house in the 45 gal reef with a sixline wrass, 2 clowns with anenome, yellow watchman gobie a royal gramma, 2 hermit crabs and a cleaner shrimp. ( It amazes me that the anenome has never eaten anything in the tank, except the odd krill I hand feed it once in a while) how do they survive in the wild!!

As I said I have tried to keep three, but that never worked due to aggresssion. I am wondering how it works with six Are there not dominant ones that always chase the smaller ones, and beat them up

[Doug]

I once seen one of my cleaner shrimp running across the reef with a chromis under his arms. Seemed to be looking at me and laughing as he ran into the boonies with his prize.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

how do they survive in the wild!!

Well, to say something VERY obvious, in the wild there is boundless space for them to claim as their own territory. Not so in our tiny tanks by comparison