Blue Chromis Agression?

[Chef G]

Hey guys today i noticed my blue chromis weren't so buddy buddy with each other. They have been fine since I brought them home little over a month ago.

This afternoon after work I noticed the one blue chromis was swimming with the large group of other community fish in my tank but the second couldn't be found, I then found him hiding in the live rock.

I noticed when feeding he slowly came out but then the other chromis chased him. I was able to feed them both via spot feeding 2 areas. However he still hides after because the other will harass him if he gets to close to him.

What are my options? Dont want to loose the little guy.

 

[Salty Cracker]

Chromis will slowly kill each other off until there is one or two "survivors". I think this is known behaviour.

 

[TORX]

I have 4 of them and they have lived happily together in my 120 since my last tank. They are often schooled together while the lights are on and only hide at night. Might mean that one is sick and dying off.

 

[noobwithatank]

I've never had good luck. Like said one will become more dominant then the rest and they slowly pick each other off starting with the weakest/smallest.

 

[heath]

I've had the same experience, one decides that he is going to be boss ..sucks, they are a neat little fish..but they are damsels..

 

[Salty Cracker]

Torx is the exception to the rule:

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/chromis-help-213610.html
http://myfilestore.com/download.php?id=3378ab0f
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1788184
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/fish-focus-blue-chromis-chromis-cyanea.15997/

I've never been able to keep more than one chromis. Over time, they all just start "disappearing". At one point I thought it was a huge starfish I had in the tank, but it kept happening after it was removed, so I did a bit of research, and yep, that same questions shows up on almost every reef site.

 

[TORX]

Really? Wow. Pic taken just now. All 4 happy together for years.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Chef G]

weird... im wondering if I would a added 5 or 6 total if it would of made a difference. Ive read on some other sites that sometimes having 6 is better because if 4 or less they tend to go alpha mode.

 

[heath]

I was always told to get an odd number but, I'm down to one...they are a neat little fish..Torx, what is your secret..

 

[Chef G]

I too wish to know lol

 

[Tomtopping]

Ive never had an issue with chromis always had 3 or 4 in all my tanks. This time i decided to go with blue reef chromis. Ordered 3 one died in shipping.The 2 i have were ok at first. Then. Battled it out for a bit but they seem to be ok for the last little while .hoping all will be good

 

[Joshbrookkate]

Really? Wow. Pic taken just now. All 4 happy together for years.

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Want a fifth one? Lol

 

[Luke.]

I've had the same issue but which eachother I bought 4 and the bigger one killed off the 3 in 2 days . I think it could have something to do with tank size and how much love stock is in the tank on top of the chromis you try to add

 

[SpongeAl]

Chromis are Damsels after all.

Maybe Torx does well because of the larger fish he has with them.

 

[Chef G]

well no more chromis for this guy lol dont get it my yellow tang, pink wrasse and two clowns live happy guess the chromis dont mix in this tank...wanting to get 2 cleaner shrimp and a pistol shrimp. My question is will the shrimp get along with my 2 pepp shrimp?

 

[new2reefing]

In my experience skunk cleaner shrimp will be very agressive towards other shrimp. So far my one pepermint shrimp has survived but my skunk did kill my blood red, and chases the pepermint every time he sees him. Sometimes depends on the order added and size, or on the individual shrimp.

 

[Chef G]

well right now the pepp shrimps would be the biggest. hoping to get the new additions to be smaller.