Blue green question

[sticky polyps]

I would like between 7&11 blue green chromis in my 65 gallon spas tank. I currently have 3 because that's all my LFS had. I asked the owner to bring me in like 10 more. My question: how does everyone feel about adding to my school of 3? Will they clash typically? Best way to do this? My 3 are super healthy right now..

Also, if the fish do combine, would you expect me to lose one every so often like I have heard? Some say they are constantly losing a fish periodically due to the social structure of the school, i.e. Aggression towards the weakest fish..
Experience? Suggestions? Advice?
Thanks all.

[Bogue Chitto]

You will probably end up losing them one by one after a while. I started out with three, added 6 more and then 3 more and now I have none.

[sticky polyps]

Yea been ready up a little more and that's the general consensus. Unless it's a super large tank with a predatory fish in it, they will pick off the weakest one. I'm gonna stick with my three and hope they last

[ca1ore]

Plus, they're like anthias in that they need multiple daily feedings. Nondescript appearance makes such efforts not worth the trouble IMO.

[C.Eymann]

Plus, they're like anthias in that they need multiple daily feedings. Nondescript appearance makes such efforts not worth the trouble IMO.

+1 if they are around the same size and are fed 3x or more a day you shouldn't see the numbersdecline.

I find that cyclopeez is a very suitable sized food item for chromis, miss the frozen bars they used to make. Instead of thawing cubes I used to take a bar out of the freezer, swish it in the tank a bit and return it

[davocean]

I'm one of those that never had a problem keeping them, the same 6 for 6 years was my longest run.
When they become healthy the flashing blue and green are really cool, they are a standard in my tanks always.
They often shoal w/ my anthia, it's a really nice mix of orange and blue green

My original 6 that I kept for 6 years were long before I kept anthias, so I did not do any special feeding, once a day and occasionally skip a day back then, no issues.

[davocean]

These are the 6 I had 6 years, you can probably tell they are of good age simply by sizing them up, that nem was about 2' in diameter.
I always buy them very young/small.
They stayed together pretty tight most of the time.
I only lost them when a heater failed in a holding tank during a swap.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/new180090.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/mermail/media/new180090.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/new180118.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/mermail/media/new180118.jpg.html)

Mine also adapted to my sea anemones.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/chromiinSebae003.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/mermail/media/chromiinSebae003.jpg.html)

[snorvich]

If you are considering chromis, you must have a rigorous quarantine protocol as the are highly susceptible to uronema marinum.

[davocean]

If you are considering chromis, you must have a rigorous quarantine protocol as the are highly susceptible to uronema marinum.

I agree, and this is where I think many lose them and assume they are picking each other off.
I do see a lot of experienced people that swear they pick each other off till one is left, but I see so many people locally here that have kept them w/out issues long term as well, I'm not sure why or what factors are involved in the divided opinions and success in keeping them.
I've had at least 5 tanks that had them, not once did they pick each other off.

[sticky polyps]

Thanks for all the replies. I do tend to feed at least twice a day... I think the main threat to me introduceing more into my system would be the parasite you are talking about. I breifly did a search on Google and found a site that said a fw dip would be effective on removing it..? Any thoughts on this? I do not have a qt tank setup right now.. :-/
Thanks again!

[Bogue Chitto]

I would like to find out just what it takes to keep them. I could put a lot in my tank if I knew what to do to keep them healthy. The first three I had lasted 6 months, and after adding the new ones, the new ones died first and then the old ones. Must be something contagious to them.

[snorvich]

Thanks for all the replies. I do tend to feed at least twice a day... I think the main threat to me introduceing more into my system would be the parasite you are talking about. I breifly did a search on Google and found a site that said a fw dip would be effective on removing it..? Any thoughts on this? I do not have a qt tank setup right now.. :-/
Thanks again!

A fresh water dip does nothing for uronema.