Mean Little Green Chromis

[Aquariust]

Sorry for the book!

Hi All! Was looking at my tank today, and noticed the normal behavior my 3 green chromis damsels. The tank is a 55 FOWLR, with 2 percs, 3 chromis, and a neon goby.

Originally, 8 months ago, I bought the biggest and dominant chromis at my LFS. After I bought him, I found these boards, and found out they like a shoal of 3 or more. So I went and bought 2 more from another lfs. One died in QT, and the other lived and is the middle (of heirarchy) green chromis in my tank. When the one died, I went to another lfs and bought one more. I put him in the QT tank, with the other green chromis. I then netted the big one out of the 55 and threw him in the QT tank too. The newest chromis was the smallest, so he took 3rd place on the dominancy scale. After 3 weeks I put all three of them back into the 55.

They behave, somewhat. The biggest chromis is always swimming all over the tank, while the second stays kinda close. The third however is forced to stay in the corner under a PH and above LR. It's been this way for 5+ months. They don't really "shoal"! On occasion I will see all 3 of them form a close trio. Lately the big one has been chasing off the neon goby and the male perc. He just seems mean, like he has the "this tank is mine" attitude. When I upgrade to the 125, I am unsure what to do with the green chromis. The new tank will have a variety of fish, so hopefully it will force "shoaling" among them. I just think that damsel thinks the whole tank is his. He will have a hard time saying that to a yellow tang, royal gramma, and possibly a coral beauty angel!

ANy ideas? Should I take them out of the equasion? Give them back to the LFS? They may be cheap, but they are quite intresting (especially if they shoaled). I do now they get quite big, so 3 is bad enough. Or should I try and introduce 2 more in the upgrade? Should I introduce 3 small ones and take the big chromis back to the lfs?

Or do you think he will calm down among larger friends? I don't like how he shuns the small one in the corner, and if he comes out, the big one chases him back. Only during feeding time do I see him move, and the big one still chases even during feeding time.

Any ideas, comments, please feel free to post

PS- I am saddened today to find my favorite hemit crab dead in the front of the tank w/o his shell. I better not see any other hermits sportin his old shell

[chromis]

Ok, Ill try to answer your questions, for the best shoaling effect you should add all chromis at once. 3 is a load of bull, I say more like 5-8, although some have had success w/3. When I kept chromis I did have one "weakling" who was either forced or liked to be next to the heater all the time. He eventually died from who knows what. Your best course of action would be to return the ones you have now and buy 6 new ones. Also, you should have no problem w/ 6 in your 55, the largest reach 3 inches.

HTH
Andrew

[petpoor]

I also think it is best to add all at once that way nobody has home turf advantage. You may want to get a couple of more then you will have the best chance to see them shoaling together. I have a school of 21 and the only time they form a tight school is when they think I am going to feed them.
Tom

[ljj]

Aquariust, maybe your fav. hermit molted.
you never know.

[Aquariust]

thanks for the high hopes. Unfortunately, the new hermit crab in his shell has red legs. The old guy had brown legs.

He was the coolest, RIP!