schooling green chromis

mikero64 · 03/21/2007, 03:45 PM

I have a new tank set up and I added two green chromis when the cycle was done I do now want to add more I was hoping to have 5-6 that would school. Will they school if they are not added at the same time. The two that I have in there now don't leave each others side.

Nykademus · 03/21/2007, 03:48 PM

From what I have read about them, its going to be hit or miss. I understand that they will school at first and they get used to the tank (lack of predators) and can stop schooling.

Whether they will school if you now add 4 or 5 more..... I think is anybody's guess.

alexb518 · 03/21/2007, 03:53 PM

based on my experience, when they are the only fish in the tank, they will not school. in fact, they will find their own little spots in the tank. but, when you add other fish, and like nykademus said, and "predators" are introduced they will stick together. but, i'm telling you...those suckers get big and it is nearly impossbile to get them out later. so, if you dont' think you want them in the long haul, i'd pass.

Young Frankenstein · 03/21/2007, 06:16 PM

I have 5 of them and they are the most active fish in the tank. Very easy going fish love them.

mikero64 · 03/21/2007, 06:21 PM

how long did it take for them to become social. mine are fine when they think no one is around and then they find a place to hide when I come near the tank.

sunfish11 · 03/21/2007, 06:24 PM

I have two for a couple years now and they stick together all the time. I like em. They will get used to the big monster peering in the tank at them all the time when they figure out that you are the god who makes food fall from the sky.

Entropy · 03/21/2007, 07:33 PM

As mentioned above, they only stick together when they feel threatened which is most reef tanks is about five minutes. I had 7 in my 90g and they stuck together for about three days and the spread out all over the tank. They would snap back together if someone walked by the tank, but even that faded once they got used to normal traffic.

sunfish11 · 03/21/2007, 07:41 PM

Maybe because I have bigger fish, much bigger than them, they stick together over the years. No one ever picks on them though and they are right in there at feeding time so I don't know.

drummereef · 03/21/2007, 08:27 PM

Also depends on the size of tank whether they will school or not. You have more of a chance of it happening in a BIG tank. At least a 180 imo.

miztahphong2 · 03/21/2007, 08:33 PM

i had a school of chromis and yes they are some of my favorite fish. the thing about them school and my experience with them that the bigger the tank the better the chance. i beleive that once you can get them to swim close enough you can add more and they will school. the thing behind it is that if you already have a school you can add more and they will just fall in line. safety in numbers i guess is the easy way to break it down. if there are no fish bigger then them that makes them feel threatened they will spread around but the thing about them is safety in numbers when it comes to schooling

ionredline0260 · 03/21/2007, 08:52 PM

I just added 2 to my 29G and they school together by my front power head. The clarkii clownfish makes sure they stay far away from her anemone.

vegesrus · 03/21/2007, 09:09 PM

my best guess is. i think so. for awhile. the new guys will wanna have some friends until they get used to the tank.

snuggle2me · 03/21/2007, 09:28 PM

I have six and they pretty much school together most of the time and occasionally one or two fall out exploring but soon rejoin the group. They are not afraid of anything and always come to the surface begging for food. I try to feed them in the same place each feeding time so maybe this familarity helps them. They are the only fish I have at the moment and I really like them. My toddler likes to grub the bottom of the" fishie fishie" tank and they even seem to like follow his hands.

vegesrus · 03/21/2007, 09:44 PM

awww how poetic!!!!

03/21/2007, 03:45 PM	#1
mikero64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: North Dakota Posts: 68	schooling green chromis I have a new tank set up and I added two green chromis when the cycle was done I do now want to add more I was hoping to have 5-6 that would school. Will they school if they are not added at the same time. The two that I have in there now don't leave each others side.

03/21/2007, 07:33 PM	#7
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	As mentioned above, they only stick together when they feel threatened which is most reef tanks is about five minutes. I had 7 in my 90g and they stuck together for about three days and the spread out all over the tank. They would snap back together if someone walked by the tank, but even that faded once they got used to normal traffic. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

03/21/2007, 08:27 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Also depends on the size of tank whether they will school or not. You have more of a chance of it happening in a BIG tank. At least a 180 imo. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

03/21/2007, 09:09 PM	#12
vegesrus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: in a house Posts: 22	my best guess is. i think so. for awhile. the new guys will wanna have some friends until they get used to the tank. __________________ baby baluga in the deep blue sea. not wait ... i got that wrong. Current Tank Info: cool

03/21/2007, 09:44 PM	#14
vegesrus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: in a house Posts: 22	awww how poetic!!!! __________________ baby baluga in the deep blue sea. not wait ... i got that wrong. Current Tank Info: cool

03/21/2007, 03:48 PM	#2
Nykademus Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 530	From what I have read about them, its going to be hit or miss. I understand that they will school at first and they get used to the tank (lack of predators) and can stop schooling. Whether they will school if you now add 4 or 5 more..... I think is anybody's guess.

03/21/2007, 03:53 PM	#3
alexb518 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Mateo Posts: 514	based on my experience, when they are the only fish in the tank, they will not school. in fact, they will find their own little spots in the tank. but, when you add other fish, and like nykademus said, and "predators" are introduced they will stick together. but, i'm telling you...those suckers get big and it is nearly impossbile to get them out later. so, if you dont' think you want them in the long haul, i'd pass.

03/21/2007, 06:16 PM	#4
Young Frankenstein Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami Florida. Posts: 3,842	I have 5 of them and they are the most active fish in the tank. Very easy going fish love them.

03/21/2007, 06:21 PM	#5
mikero64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: North Dakota Posts: 68	how long did it take for them to become social. mine are fine when they think no one is around and then they find a place to hide when I come near the tank.

03/21/2007, 06:24 PM	#6
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	I have two for a couple years now and they stick together all the time. I like em. They will get used to the big monster peering in the tank at them all the time when they figure out that you are the god who makes food fall from the sky.

03/21/2007, 07:41 PM	#8
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	Maybe because I have bigger fish, much bigger than them, they stick together over the years. No one ever picks on them though and they are right in there at feeding time so I don't know.

03/21/2007, 08:33 PM	#10
miztahphong2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 53	i had a school of chromis and yes they are some of my favorite fish. the thing about them school and my experience with them that the bigger the tank the better the chance. i beleive that once you can get them to swim close enough you can add more and they will school. the thing behind it is that if you already have a school you can add more and they will just fall in line. safety in numbers i guess is the easy way to break it down. if there are no fish bigger then them that makes them feel threatened they will spread around but the thing about them is safety in numbers when it comes to schooling

03/21/2007, 08:52 PM	#11
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	I just added 2 to my 29G and they school together by my front power head. The clarkii clownfish makes sure they stay far away from her anemone.

03/21/2007, 09:28 PM	#13
snuggle2me Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Palmetto, FL Posts: 233	I have six and they pretty much school together most of the time and occasionally one or two fall out exploring but soon rejoin the group. They are not afraid of anything and always come to the surface begging for food. I try to feed them in the same place each feeding time so maybe this familarity helps them. They are the only fish I have at the moment and I really like them. My toddler likes to grub the bottom of the" fishie fishie" tank and they even seem to like follow his hands.