4 Green Chromis disappeared

Bellaireoaks · 02/28/2007, 12:34 PM

I bought 4 Green Chromis 5days ago and now there is only one. The 2nd days, I saw two of the fish with missing flesh. It like something is trying to eat them. First 1 was missing than 2 and now there is only one left. It like it simply disappears without a trace. I checked around the tank but nothing. I check in the sump but nothing there neither. What do everyone think is happening?

Frick-n-Frags · 02/28/2007, 12:37 PM

hmmmm, mantis?
ever hear any clicking in the tank? (could be a mantis smashing the rock to get at worms or whatever they smash the rock for)

aside from that, chromis are magic like that, they just vanish until there is only one. No, really..

Bellaireoaks · 02/28/2007, 12:43 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frick-n-Frags
[B]hmmmm, mantis?
ever hear any clicking in the tank? (could be a mantis smashing the rock to get at worms or whatever they smash the rock for)

aside from that, chromis are magic like that, they just vanish until there is only one. No, really..

No clicking sound in my tank.

jeffhaag · 02/28/2007, 12:51 PM

No, this is not at all uncommon with Chromis. Do a search and you will find it's common to see a 50% or higher mortality rate within the first week of getting them. They are such an inexpensive fish that they are massive packed in transport containers and do not fair well during delivery. The good news is that once they make it a week or 2, they are pretty much buletproof.

I actually lost 13 Green Chromis to build a shoal of 8 in my 210gal tank. I would constantly pickup 6 at a time and wait a week to see who survived before getting more. I tried everything I could think of and even drip acclimated them without success. They would develop pink flesh looking spots and then disappear during the night. Now that I have my shoal of 8 though, they are all over 2 years old and have never had any issues at all.

Frick-n-Frags · 02/28/2007, 12:52 PM

it actually may be worth putting out a piece of silverside or other seafood chunk to test for predators.
just anchor it securely somewhere out front and do some nightime observing to see who shows up for dinner.

lakwriter · 02/28/2007, 12:57 PM

I had a bangaii cardinal disappear like that...took all the rock out of the 29g and checked all the carpet around the stand...never found him, nor any remnants.

02/28/2007, 12:34 PM	#1
Bellaireoaks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 11	4 Green Chromis disappeared I bought 4 Green Chromis 5days ago and now there is only one. The 2nd days, I saw two of the fish with missing flesh. It like something is trying to eat them. First 1 was missing than 2 and now there is only one left. It like it simply disappears without a trace. I checked around the tank but nothing. I check in the sump but nothing there neither. What do everyone think is happening?

02/28/2007, 12:37 PM	#2
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	hmmmm, mantis? ever hear any clicking in the tank? (could be a mantis smashing the rock to get at worms or whatever they smash the rock for) aside from that, chromis are magic like that, they just vanish until there is only one. No, really.. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

02/28/2007, 12:52 PM	#5
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	it actually may be worth putting out a piece of silverside or other seafood chunk to test for predators. just anchor it securely somewhere out front and do some nightime observing to see who shows up for dinner. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

02/28/2007, 12:57 PM	#6
lakwriter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 562	I had a bangaii cardinal disappear like that...took all the rock out of the 29g and checked all the carpet around the stand...never found him, nor any remnants. __________________ 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

02/28/2007, 12:43 PM	#3
Bellaireoaks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 11	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frick-n-Frags [B]hmmmm, mantis? ever hear any clicking in the tank? (could be a mantis smashing the rock to get at worms or whatever they smash the rock for) aside from that, chromis are magic like that, they just vanish until there is only one. No, really.. No clicking sound in my tank.

02/28/2007, 12:51 PM	#4
jeffhaag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chickamauga, GA Posts: 442	No, this is not at all uncommon with Chromis. Do a search and you will find it's common to see a 50% or higher mortality rate within the first week of getting them. They are such an inexpensive fish that they are massive packed in transport containers and do not fair well during delivery. The good news is that once they make it a week or 2, they are pretty much buletproof. I actually lost 13 Green Chromis to build a shoal of 8 in my 210gal tank. I would constantly pickup 6 at a time and wait a week to see who survived before getting more. I tried everything I could think of and even drip acclimated them without success. They would develop pink flesh looking spots and then disappear during the night. Now that I have my shoal of 8 though, they are all over 2 years old and have never had any issues at all.