Shy Chromis might be a bully?

[jedimaster1138]

So I had purchased 3 blue/green chromis (chromis viridis) from BlueZooAquatics a couple weeks ago. One arrived DOA in the bag (all packed in separate bags though). The other two seemed to be OK with acclimation (separately) and joined the tank. Left the lights off a solid day and slowly built them back up. Since then though, one chromis is out and about more every day, despite starting shy. The other however remains *very* shy. He pretty much spends 95% of the time hiding in the 1/2" x 8" space behind my HOB overflow. He comes out to eat, though only occasionally ventures away from the rear of the tank. Generally just eats the food that floats towards the back. No sign of any damage or disease that I can see when he comes out. That goes for the not-shy one too. He swims about happily near the top in general.

Yesterday I purchased 2 Ocellaris Clowns from Manhattan Aquariums. (btw, that store has an insane coral selection - note to self, leave credit card home) I asked one of the guys there about the chromis. He suggested the introduction of the clowns might coax the chromis out more. So far that seems to be the case...at least for the not-shy one. He's out more today and last night than he had been. The shy one though...he's still a full on recluse, except during food time. This morning he ate, then went back into hiding.

Another thing the MA guy suggested was fighting. Haven't seen much of that, though it's hard as he doesn't come out often. I HAVE noticed that when the 2 chromis get together, they occasionally bump noses.

Today I also noticed the more social chromis hanging out in a rock cave rather than up behind the overflow with his cohort, as he had been. That's new...could that mean he likes the reclusive one less and less?

Lastly, the MA guy said that adding another chromis or chromis(s) might also help, if the clowns don't. This sorta makes sense to me as my understanding of chromis is they work best in odd numbered groups, and with the DOA one, I didn't have 3, but rather 2. I was also under the impression that chromis were quite social and active species, which is the exact opposite of what I've observed.

One more bit...the question chromis has a bit of a list to starboard...ie, he isn't 100% upright 100% of the time. Seems to swim a little...tilted for lack of a better term.

Curious what people think of this. Is the fish in question ill? Has an attitude problem? Wants more friends? Should I remove him, assuming I could catch him?

Statistics: 50g + 12g sump/refugium with Chaeto, Red and Green Gracilia and some new mangrove seeds. Tunze skimmer, BRS reactor (GFO and carbon) Ecoxotic LED lights.

Water parameters are spot on. pH 8.2, no ammonia or nitrties. Nitrates are pushing down towards not measurable. (go chaeto) CUC seems to be happily enjoying algae munching. I don't have any coral yet...tank is about 4 months old.

TIA

 

[jedimaster1138]

Tonight's feeding...he came out to eat and ate he did. Quite vigorously too. All 4 fish, 2 clowns and 2 chromis were all at the surface grabbing at food, peacefully. When he was done though, he went back into his hidey hole.

While out I could confirm 0 signs of physical damage. No nipped fins or anything like that, and I didn't see signs of aggression with his tankmates.

Still confused.

 

[KathyC]

While Chromis are advertised as a peaceful fish, they do tend to kill off each other in a reef tank (you will find a few exceptions, but this is what generally happens) until you are ultimately left with one.
You could try adding a few more (I'd purchase them locally rather than pay shipping on these inexpensive fish) and that might help diminish (will spread it out anyway) any aggression between the fish, but what you are describing is too often quite common.
The one that is swimming around may well have already put the other fish 'in it's place'..or he just might be extremely shy. Not every fish has read the book on what it's behavior is supposed to be

btw - the group does not have to be an odd number - that is more for people who hope to breed fish and the odds increase of insuring a mix of males & females.

What are your stocking plans for fish? You may not want to take up too much of your 'fish space' with a school of chromis if there are others that you want in there!

 

[jedimaster1138]

Kathy, thanks for the reply -

My stocking list is modest, I think. My plan has been...

The aforementioned small group of Chromis, currently 2.
1-2 clowns (currently in my tank, hopefully happy and healthy - they sure eat a lot)
1 royal gramma (thinking about a month from now or so)
1 or 2 spotted cardinals
A midas blenny or something in that genre

I've considered a Reef Safe Wrasse, though I don't know enough about them just yet to comment on exactly which species. I would at some point like to keep some of the (easier) corals, depending on how my water is a few months from now (it's only been 3, my plan was to stay away from coral for at least 6, unless I get bold and the reef tests shows fantastic parameters.

I do covet a Dwarf Flame Angel and see varying reports as to their reef compatibility. Again, my research isn't complete in that area, I do know that if I did choose to keep one of those, it would be the last fish introduced, so I have months to decide, in theory.

And that's probably it, though I'm still refining things. Again, 50g tank - I spend way too much time on liveaquaria and reading Fenner's tome learning about options.

If you have comments on my list, I'd certainly listen. Suggestions, omissions, additions, order changes etc Experience in marine is what I don't have, but am getting it on a daily basis. I welcome input from experts.

Again thanks for the reply

-Joe

PS - this morning's feeding - everyone was out and about eating as a group. When the food was gone and his belly was full, Mr Shy Chromis retreated to his hidey hole. But they were all friends during breakfast time. So i guess that's good.

 

[homegrowncichlid]

chromis are nervous schooling fish. Right now I have 3 (with another 8 much larger different fish) and the 3 are always hiding, except during feeding times. I use to have 6 of them a couple of years ago in the tank by themselves, and with a small school, they would all hide, then suddently all 6 woiuld be out (if they sense something like food) then all 6 would hide again. When I had 10 of them, it was much more dramatic and fun. they would always be darting in and out of everything as a group. At this time, they were alone in the tank. Even when I walked up to the tank, they would sense me as a large scary thing and hide.

As for intra specific competition, yes I did have some larger males who grew faster, and little males that didn't, and yes they did have a social hierarhy. (Under the T5 lights, I can't tell who's a male, but when the sunlight was coming form the window, the males have bright stripes on their faces.) When they are competing with each other, you have to make sure they all eat. Otherwise, as in my tank as I fed them less often, (and got other fish who ate bigger foods less frequently) The chromis will compete fiercely for food, the smaller ones slowly starved and waste away.

In Summary, the biggest fish will get the food first, and grow faster, out competing the slower/weaker fish. There was not so much direct fighting.

This behavior applies to all schooling fish, who do not hold territories.