|
|
FAQs about genus Chromis Damsel Identification
Related Articles: Chromis Damsels,
Related FAQs: Chromis FAQs 1,
Chromis FAQs 2, Chromis Behavior,
Chromis Compatibility, Chromis
Selection, Chromis Systems,
Chromis Feeding, Chromis Disease,
Chromis Reproduction, Damsel
Identification, Damsel Identification,
Damsel Selection, Damsel
Compatibility, Damsel Feeding,
Damsel Disease, Damsel
Reproduction, Without a doubt, the
most commonly employed aquarium member of the genus, C. viridis. | .JPG)
|
chromis <Chromis> viridis, color var. 2/20/07
hi
<Hi>
bob
<Bob
coral
<Coral>
magazine
<Magazine>
on page 29 of the 02/03-2007 issue has a picture of chromis
<Chromis>
viridis from the red sea
<Red Sea>
in a color form
that i
<I>
have not seen before,
<.>
is
<Is>
the
name correct? if
<If>
so is this fish available in the us?
thank you
reinhard haltermann
<Reinhard Halterman>
<<Don't
have this magazine... but this species does look a bit different (more
silvery, more greenish or bluish) about the world... and there are
always the vagaries of photography and reproduction... BobF>>
Chromis Query ... id, comp., sel. 4/8/06
Hi Y'all,
<Chris>
I'm just wondering if you could clarify any differences in
suitability/temperament with Chromis or point me towards somewhere I can
find more info - I have checked the WWM pages and FAQs already (& other
sources) but can't seem to find the answers I seek.
<... What little
we have should be in the coverage, subFAQs coverage by the genus,
family:
http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/part2.htm
Scroll down to
the Damsels, genus...>
My query is specifically around the
differences between Blue-Green Chromis (C. viridis?), Blue Chromis (C.
cyanea?) and the Green Chromis
(with black spot at base of pectoral
fin?) (C. atripectoralis?)
<These are the most common species
associated with these names... though there are often others>
I have
seen recently Chromis labeled as blue Chromis which looked (in my humble
opinion) nicer than the blue/greens, it is difficult to tell from
the picture on your Chromis page but the fishies that I saw had markings
similar to blue devil damsels around the eye - small black splotch/band
- does this fit with how blue Chromis are generally marked?
<Mmm, if
you mean mis-marked, labeled and/or appearing, yes>
The colour of
these fishies was consistent with the deeper blue (as on your page) than
the blue/greens. How do I differentiate between blue/greens and
greens - is this the Pec fin black spot?
<Not definitive...
unfortunately. Some batches, source locations have this spot, others
no.>
Mainly my query is around the temperament of these fishies and
any variances amongst variety - I am planning three of a single species
for
my new tank (a month or two before I start stocking yet - still
working on the lists!) They will be sharing the tank with 2 Black &
white
Clowns, a couple of Banggai Cardinals & either a Flame Angel
or a Coral Beauty (being tempted by the Coral B here) along with mainly
SPS coral.
On the basis of aesthetic value I am leaning towards the
Blue Chromis (assuming you confirm that the fishies I saw labeled as
such with the
eye markings are indeed likely to be Blue Chromis)
however behaviour and temperament (particularly as these are damsels!)
are more important to
me as I want all of my charges to co-exist as
harmoniously as possible! On this basis is there much to choose between
the blue, green/blue and green?
<Viridis are the easiest going, most
likely to mix with its own species, others... Cyanea next,
Atripectoralis last... though all three of these Chromis are far to the
left in terms of the spectrum of Pomacentrid aggressiveness. The short
answer here is I'd go with the Blue-greens if this were a concern. Bob
Fenner>
Many thanks as ever
Chris
Red Chromis? 1/14/06
Hello crew
<James>
My
LFS recently had a very attractive fish for sale that I had never seen
before.
I have searched your site and a few others and have been
unable to locate
anything that looks like it. It was labeled as a
"Red Chromis", about 1.5 inches
long, colored an orangey-red sort of
like a flame angel, and had at least one bright blue
dot on its side
(as I recall it was on/near his dorsal fin). Unfortunately the poor guy
was in his death throes
when I saw him. According to the LFS he had
come in damaged and had been swimming in
circles for a couple of
days. As I stated I can't seem to find a picture of this guy anywhere. I
was quite taken
with this fish and I was wondering if this
description would ring any bells with the crew.
Best to you all and
thanks.
Jim
<Mmm, have recently been through the genus (putting
away images from a trip), and don't recall any reddish member. You can
try fishbase.org and scan all pix they have... Mine here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/chromis.htm
Bob Fenner>
Chromis color change
The orange lined Chromis is supposed to
lose his color when he's juvenile
he's blue with a orange stripe but
is his adult form he's brown with a white
tail... just thought I'd
let you know
<Yep. Thank you. Bob Fenner> Reef Chromis beyond
Green?
Robert Fenner:
There seem to be many types of small
Chromis that would be suitable as
fish for the reef aquarium, but
only viridis, cyanea and occasionally
dimidiata are available in the
trade. Why?
<I often call this the "founder" or "flounder effect"...
Yes, there are MANY more suitable (in fact much more suitable) species
of fishes, non-fish livestock that can/could/should be utilized in the
ornamental interest... as an old-timey industry person who visits
collection, breeding sites all year long I'll tell you... mainly "key"
species are targeted... as they're already known to be "good sellers",
"in demand"... Amazing, this is the principal reason why we see so few
"new" species offered~!>
Or am I just not shopping at the right LFS
or website? Do you know of
anyone who offers other types of reef-safe
Chromis for sale?
RJS
<Try the fine folks at Marine Center (dot
com)... and ask them in turn where you might go... There are
"contaminants" from time to time that "show up" in shipments as well...
Bob Fenner, who says, come travel diving with us and pick up your own!>
Re: Reef Chromis beyond Green?
Thanks for the info. I can see why
the "flounder effect" would apply to the
old-line LFS pet store trade
-- but the Internet trade would seem to open new
markets for the bold
supplier.
<Ahh, yes... We could use people of your caliber and
enterprise in our industry... unfortunately the remuneration and
prestige are not high... And the Internet companies have absolutely
nothing, zero, nada to do with what gets caught, shipped from the
wild... the structure of the trade is such... However, with enough
"bottom up" demand for livestock... new species are added... over a few
years time... sort of like turning a big ship with a small rudder... And
the all-important, opening up of new collection areas... like airline
service going into some place that has viable species, abundance,
governments that want to see their resources used properly... these
sorts of influences... once again... time frames... years...>
Let's
hope some adventuresome web/dotcom shipper
will break the trend and
supply some new varieties.
<You would/could have more effect by
taking photographs, writing a "happy story" about the suitability of
said species... this is, um, what yours truly does, has done the last
few decades>
There is a ready market. I
am not the only one out
here tired of the same old same old -- sounds like a
financial
opportunity for somebody!
<Indeed my friend. You are correct. Bob
Fenner> Re: Hey Bob ;)(Trachyphylliid, Pomacentrus, stocking)
Hey,
I hope that my gratification is not getting too much for you,
but again,
thanks so much for your time, my friend.
<"The only
true gift is a part of thyself">
First, the brain coral appraisal.
Not a brain coral at all (of course you
knew that)
<You are
right... am becoming quite transparent... am glad for this>
, it is a
"Super Green Wellsophyllia" <one more "l"> To recap the situation with
this guy, he is about half the size he was when I originally got him and
his
colors are not quite as radiant. . . He also looks quite a bit
"harder" as
before he was light and fluffy looking Is there anything
that I may do right
now?
<Mmm, check on biomineral, alkaline
content of your water... perhaps feed the colony... See coverage as per
old family affiliation/classification, Trachyphylliidae:
http://wetwebmedia.com/trachyphlliidae.htm>
OK, new issue. In my 90
gallon (75 g plus 30 g sump) I have approximately 19
inches of fish,
and the rest reef clean up crew. From my research I have
about 10
"inches" more of fish to stock the tank before I can call it a
completely stocked reef. Am I on?
<Sort of... "completely stocked" is
a subjective reality... It's not stocked till you believe it so... It is
currently stocked IMHO, but you could add more.>
I am also looking
forward to having some
schooling fish of some kind (in this case 5
small fish to finish off the
stock). I did read several of the damsel
articles on WetWeb. . . I was
hoping for more FAQs regarding the
"Lemon Damselfish" for a reef environment.
<Please write them and I
will post>
But here's where it gets interesting -- just attempting to
properly identify
this guy. On FFE he goes by "Abudefduf aureus" In
Aquarium Fish Magazine he
goes by "Pomacentrus moluccensis." In the
WWM you match what Aquarium Fish
Magazine calls it.
<This is
a/the fish. Maybe check the current i.d., taxonomy on fishbase.org>
If this species is appropriate for what I am looking for
(a colorful
splash of yellow schooling fish, as I have decided not to go with
the
Yellow Tang (too aggressive),
<Mmm this Damsel's about as aggressive,
a bit smaller...>
that will be hardy and easy to take care of,
and
like to be seen. And most of all, are they really DARK YELLOW, like the
Yellow Tang?
<Check the images out on fishbase... this Damsel, like
many, changes with age/growth>
Or are they pretty dull? And about its
identification. On FFE
they don't offer a pic with this guy. The last
thing I want is to order him
and be stuck with a bunch of destructive
goldfish! You know what I mean.
<Maybe>
I have other questions,
but I attempt to keep them in species order so that
you can properly
file them into your priceless knowledge FAQ database.
<Our database>
Look
forward to talking again in the next few days. I'm getting the
aquarium
stocking itch again!!
Kindest regards,
Rich
<Be
chatting. Bob Fenner> Quick Simple Chromis Question
Bob,
I've been thinking about purchasing some species of small schooling fish
for my 90 Gallon Reef Tank. I've read all about the Chromis and I think
that I have decided to add 3-4 small blue reef Chromis I think the
species cyanea . Here's my question. I can order them online and pay for
the rather large shipping charges (I've done this once already and all
three arrived DOA from Saltwaterfish.com's)
<Not a big fan of
ordering/purchasing livestock sight unseen. Shipping charges usually
come close to eating up all your savings and then if you have problems,
forget about it (in my best Italian accent).>
but I thought that I
could buy this family of damsels in the LFS. Well, I've been to three
stores and I don't trust anyone to tell me
that those little blue
"damsels" are from the Chromis family. How can I tell?
<You can get
several good pictures of these guys from the WWM webpage under Chromis.
Also, these guys are Atlantic, so your LFS will have to have an Atlantic
supplier. Be sure to quarantine these guys and all new fish for one
month minimum. Mixing Atlantic and Pacific fish can cause all kinds of
parasite problems. -Steven Pro> Chromis dimidiata
I was
trying to figure out if this fish is akin to the "green Chromis", i.e an
effective "dither" fish that can be kept in small schools in the
aquaria, or is this guy more like the dreaded domino in temperament?
<My experience has been that all Chromis species are fairly peaceful.>
Also, is Chromis cyanea a separate species from Chromis viridis, or are
these just color variants?
<No, these are different species from
opposite sides of the world.>
Are Chromis cyanea found in the Red
Sea?
<These are a Caribbean fish.>
I'm confused by stuff that I've
found on your website and elsewhere. Thanks.
<Hopefully, I cleared up
some of your confusion. -Steven Pro>
|
|
