how many chromis should i add?

DMK · 03/07/2007, 01:25 PM

i have a 4 yr old 92 corner, SPS, w/ alot of LR and ALOT of flow. around 100X turnover. not sure if chromis like alot of flow but current fish don't mind. other fish are a peaceful maroon clown pair w/ RBTA, purple tang, algae blenny, 6line and a bangai cardinal. i want to add 3-5 blue/green chromis to give tank some more movement/color. i heard u are supposed to add an odd number...? how many would be best, 3,5 or 7?

E-A-G-L-E-S · 03/07/2007, 01:26 PM

5 - imo....and they love flow

tangyreefer05 · 03/07/2007, 01:28 PM

Well most people seem to say that they kill each other off over time. Others have better luck, it might have something to do with how much they are fed too. They are known to be pretty ruthless against each other, similar to a African cichlid.

Sorry I don't know if adding 3 would be better vs 5 or vice versa, anyone else?

DMK · 03/07/2007, 01:34 PM

i didn't know they fight amongst themselves. i keep my fish fed well so hopefully they will not fight. i'm wondering how my 6line and PT will treat them. my clowns do their own thing all day w/ RBTA. the PT and 6line can be aggressive. the 6line stressed a new royal gramma to death in 1 day. the PT did the same to a new foxface over 2 days. since the chromis are small, and there's going to be more than a few of them, maybe there will not be a problem.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 03/07/2007, 01:41 PM

you'll have multiple chromis though...so it is hard for the aggressive fish to keep track of which one is which...also if you feed daily the squabling and mouth to mouth fighting should not occur.
At least this is has been my experience. I had 5 in my old 210g and I have 5 in my current 58g. Never lost one to illness or fighting in over 2+ years. I feed daily.

davocean · 03/07/2007, 01:53 PM

I don't take stock in odd or even.
I've had the same 6 for in my 90 almost 5 yrs now, no aggression whatsoever.

srbball22 · 03/07/2007, 04:17 PM

I have had 5 in my 65 gallon for over a year now, while the larger ones do show there dominance to the smaller ones, there is never any harm done and the 5 i have are the originals ones i got.

lakwriter · 03/07/2007, 07:47 PM

5 is a good number. If you add them all at the same time, you shouldn't have agression issues. Chromis aren't nearly as agressive as their damsel bretheren.

KyleO · 03/08/2007, 12:30 AM

My wife talked me into getting 8 green chromis. Even though I really didn't want Chromis at all, I have to admit that the little school is very cool. They love the flow and the other fish leave them alone.

I have come to really like Chromis!

DMK · 03/08/2007, 11:56 AM

i bought 5. they're hanging together and doing well since adding last night. no fish bothered them. my huge bangai cardinal, who i sometimes feed 1/2 of a silverside no problem, swam up behind 1 as soon as i added, i thought he was going to suck it in, but didn't. since then, he also doesn't seem to mind them. they look cool.

03/07/2007, 01:25 PM	#1
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	how many chromis should i add? i have a 4 yr old 92 corner, SPS, w/ alot of LR and ALOT of flow. around 100X turnover. not sure if chromis like alot of flow but current fish don't mind. other fish are a peaceful maroon clown pair w/ RBTA, purple tang, algae blenny, 6line and a bangai cardinal. i want to add 3-5 blue/green chromis to give tank some more movement/color. i heard u are supposed to add an odd number...? how many would be best, 3,5 or 7?

03/07/2007, 01:26 PM	#2
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	5 - imo....and they love flow __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

03/07/2007, 01:41 PM	#5
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	you'll have multiple chromis though...so it is hard for the aggressive fish to keep track of which one is which...also if you feed daily the squabling and mouth to mouth fighting should not occur. At least this is has been my experience. I had 5 in my old 210g and I have 5 in my current 58g. Never lost one to illness or fighting in over 2+ years. I feed daily. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

03/07/2007, 01:53 PM	#6
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I don't take stock in odd or even. I've had the same 6 for in my 90 almost 5 yrs now, no aggression whatsoever. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/07/2007, 07:47 PM	#8
lakwriter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 562	5 is a good number. If you add them all at the same time, you shouldn't have agression issues. Chromis aren't nearly as agressive as their damsel bretheren. __________________ And this, too, shall pass... 29 g FOWLR 37# LR, 35# LS 2 green chromis 2 ocellaris clowns a very social peppermint shrimp and various snails and hermits

03/07/2007, 01:28 PM	#3
tangyreefer05 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 474	Well most people seem to say that they kill each other off over time. Others have better luck, it might have something to do with how much they are fed too. They are known to be pretty ruthless against each other, similar to a African cichlid. Sorry I don't know if adding 3 would be better vs 5 or vice versa, anyone else?

03/07/2007, 01:34 PM	#4
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	i didn't know they fight amongst themselves. i keep my fish fed well so hopefully they will not fight. i'm wondering how my 6line and PT will treat them. my clowns do their own thing all day w/ RBTA. the PT and 6line can be aggressive. the 6line stressed a new royal gramma to death in 1 day. the PT did the same to a new foxface over 2 days. since the chromis are small, and there's going to be more than a few of them, maybe there will not be a problem.

03/07/2007, 04:17 PM	#7
srbball22 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 268	I have had 5 in my 65 gallon for over a year now, while the larger ones do show there dominance to the smaller ones, there is never any harm done and the 5 i have are the originals ones i got.

03/08/2007, 12:30 AM	#9
KyleO Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brentwood, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 737	My wife talked me into getting 8 green chromis. Even though I really didn't want Chromis at all, I have to admit that the little school is very cool. They love the flow and the other fish leave them alone. I have come to really like Chromis! __________________ Enjoy every moment......you don't have nearly as many left as you think!!! Current Tank Info: 135g Frag tank w/ attached 30ga Cube and 50ga refugium

03/08/2007, 11:56 AM	#10
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	i bought 5. they're hanging together and doing well since adding last night. no fish bothered them. my huge bangai cardinal, who i sometimes feed 1/2 of a silverside no problem, swam up behind 1 as soon as i added, i thought he was going to suck it in, but didn't. since then, he also doesn't seem to mind them. they look cool.