do chromis acclimate bad or somethin?

[jandree22]

initially when I first stocked my 75, I got 5 chromis. 3 stayed as strong as an ox the whole way through and are still healthy today a few months later. 2 others died for no apparent reason within 1 day after introducing them. Just last week from another LFS I purchased 3 more chromis to put with the 3 already in there. 2 died within the first day, the one died 3 days later. all of them, before they died, began the whole schpeal with swimming in circles then laying on the sand.

pretty much everything else i get from those LFS hasn't had any health problems, so what the hell is up with the chromis?! I know I'm done buying them, though, I'll learn to be happy with the 3 that I got! I think my tank has a chromis curse :lol:

 

[cdeakle]

interesting....

See any signs of agression? How did you acclimate them?

 

[jandree22]

no aggression in either case. the first batch was acclimated by floating the bag and pouring in about a half cup of water every few minutes. the second batch was acclimated using the bucket/drip method.

 

[cdeakle]

No ideas then, could be they werent meant for a captive reef? Didn't take to well to being shipped all over the place?

 

[jhaag]

Anytime I have purchased chromis (green and blue reef) for my tanks, I always purchase twice the amount I want. For whatever reason 50% have always seemed to die on me within 72hours for no apparent reason. I on a side note, I was at my LFS (aquatic technologies) and asked them if they were getting any more Blue Reef Chromis in. The gal working there told me they had gotten them in 3 times within the last month and they have all died within 48 hours so they are going to wait a little while before stocking up on them again. I know this doesn't tell you anything about why they all die like that, but it is not uncommon. I have heard several people with the exact problem. No reasoning and everything else in the tank is perfect. On the plus side though, those that make it past the first week seem to last a VERY long time!

 

[jandree22]

wow, that's crazy! It's true though, the three that made through it all are active, bright blue, and very sociable. wierd stuff

 

[shr00m]

well based only on the fact that there shipments were dying within 72 hours .... real possibillilty of cyanide caught fish... if water perimeters are all in check, you slowly acclimated, fish showed no signs of diesese....

 

[Ricpan]

Chromis are stored and shipped from there orgin very crowded. So many are stressed and the weaker die off. I think cyanide is more of a problem with fish that stay close and in the reefs that are hard to catch. Chromis are in large schools and usually easy to catch.

 

[Anonymous]

well based only on the fact that there shipments were dying within 72 hours .... real possibillilty of cyanide caught fish... if water perimeters are all in check, you slowly acclimated, fish showed no signs of diesese....

Not outside the realm of possibility, but chromis are not nomaly caught in this manner.
These fish, as are many marine fish, subject not only to the normal stresses and maladies associated with holding and shipping, but a form of "fish PTSD" as well.
It's normal to lose some when purchasing a group. I currently have 7 in my 150 gallon. They've been there for close to a year now and are rock solid fish. However, I had to buy 11 to end up with these 7. They are not the hardiest fish when it comes to being caught, held, shipped, held again in an LFS, and starved the whole while.
The ones that acclimate and make it though make GREAT aquarium fish.

Cheers
Jim

 

[Anonymous]

yeah I have had the sme experience and i kno0w people who have also had this happen to them. I bought 6 about a week and a half ago now I have 3 that seem to be going strong

 

[Anonymous]

Chromis are stored and shipped from there orgin very crowded.

I think thats about the closest statement in this thread with one exception, they're all bagged (not "gang bagged") individually for shipping from exporter to wholesaler. They're packed SO tight (ie. low amounts of water) that the water quality usually sets them up for the kill. Another major problem is lack of food thru the COC (chain of custody). Collectors don't feed, exporters don't feed and most wholesalers don't feed, so alot of fish are merly living off their meager fat reserves. Always check a fishes belly and back prior to purchase. With chromis, don't buy any that have any fin damage, red streaks or spots (no matter how small) are that don't run away from the net.

 

[Anonymous]

Chromis are stored and shipped from there orgin very crowded.

With chromis, don't buy any that have any fin damage, red streaks or spots (no matter how small) are that don't run away from the net.

Good advice with any fish. However with chromis, you purchase a group you are likely to get some mortality regardless of how healthy they look. They are just a small, delicate fish with very little weight on them to begin with, and just don't put up with the rigors of handling, and the accompanying starvation well. Unlike say a grouper that can handle all sorts of abuse.
Again, the ones that make it are rock solid.

Jim

 

[John_Brandt]

Unlike say a grouper that can handle all sorts of abuse.

Guess you haven't seen the stacks of dead groupers at the wholesalers.

 

[Anonymous]

Unlike say a grouper that can handle all sorts of abuse.

Guess you haven't seen the stacks of dead groupers at the wholesalers.

I have worked at one, and if you are seeing that, something is amiss. There are stacks of all kinds of fish at the wholesalers. If you are seeing JUST AS MANY dead groupers though as chromis damsels or anthias, or certain angels and butterfly's, something is woefully wrong my friend. There is no arguing the fact that groupers are very hardy fish, and will put up with much more abuse than many other species. It's a "realative" thing, a comparison. I never said they were immortal.


Jim

 

[John_Brandt]

Jim, great to hear that you have that experience. I don't want you to think I was trying to insult your intelligence. Indeed, there is a huge proportional difference with Chromis mortality vs. groupers. But groupers succumb to husbandry insults as well. And in some regions they may be consistently caught with cyanide. I've seen too many dead baby panther groupers to think that there isn't "something amiss", as you say.

I am in agreement with you. I just didn't want your comment about groupers to be taken by a naive audience to mean that there is almost no mortality.

 

[Anonymous]

Jim, great to hear that you have that experience. I don't want you to think I was trying to insult your intelligence. Indeed, there is a huge proportional difference with Chromis mortality vs. groupers. But groupers succumb to husbandry insults as well. And in some regions they may be consistently caught with cyanide. I've seen too many dead baby panther groupers to think that there isn't "something amiss", as you say.

I am in agreement with you. I just didn't want your comment about groupers to be taken by a naive audience to mean that there is almost no mortality.

No problemo!

Jim

 

[rwoolley]

I had 5 Green Chromis that one by one over a 4-5 week period bit it. No problems with any other fish. I'm done killing the little critters....

 

[clarionreef]

Guys,
Green chromis are killed by the $1.20 rule.
As importers know, few retailers will pay more than $1.20 for a green chromis. So, like regular businessmen they respond to market demand and make them land at a cost that brings them in under the wire.
As a "semi-pelagic" like chromis with a high metabolism and high O2 requirements, they take the tight pack abuse less well then other damsels.
Like many scientifically based arguments, if it doesn't pay, it doesn't fly. The dumbing down of the trades practices by its mass base...insure and impell it to operate against science and reason.
A looser pack would bring the green chromis in for $1.70-$2.00.
That would be the kiss of death for anyone doing it right. They will not sell them and all you hobbyists who would be happy to pay a little more to get it done right will not be able to get it thru the thick skulls of your favorite dealers will you?
The answer is here and its clear. The verdict however is to keep killing them w/ a low landed cost tight pack.

You consciencious few add up to a mere 1-2% of the mass market that ruins intelligent progress on this kind of thing. Your collective buying power is not great....or is it?
I feel your pain.
Steve [ a wholesaler]

 

[jhaag]

Wow, I never thought about that way, but I am sure that is completely correct. It's all about busines and making a profit to stay in business. Thanks for the insight and the absolutely great interpretation Steve.