My poor Chromis...

[jef4y]

I started with 3. 2 quickly ganged up on 1, killing it in about a week. The other 2 have been fine for months (like 6 months I think), but one has grown about 2x the size of the other. The little guy gets bullied a good bit by the big chromis and my female clown. So he stays either behind the heater or under my frogspawn where nobody can get to him.

Today I was feeding them and saw the little guy has Pop-Eye on his left eye.

Anybody have any experience with a fish recovering from popeye?

From what I've read he "may" recover, and having it in 1 eye is better than both. Should know more over the weekend...

 

[crewdawg1981]

I had a dispar get it. She hid out for a little while, until she was healed, but she's still going strong.

 

[jef4y]

Thanks! That's encouraging! I always root for the underdog in the tank so I hope he comes through it.

 

[legalreefer]

jef4y;757158 wrote: thanks! That's encouraging! I always root for the underdog in the tank so i hope he comes through it.

+1

 

[stacy22]

Popeye is bacterial and often clears up without treatment. Are you planning on rehoming him?

 

[jef4y]

stacy22;757162 wrote: Popeye is bacterial and often clears up without treatment. Are you planning on rehoming him?

In reading, it sounded like if both eyes popped it was bacterial but if 1 eye popped it was likely an injury. Not sure which, but no other fish are exhibiting any symptoms or issues.

I'm not sure on rehoming him. I can't see trying to give him to anyone in the condition he is in. And if he pulls through, he may stand a fighting chance in the tank and especially in the bigger tank where there will be more hiding spots. What do you think?

 

[spiderman097]

I went and bought 3 chromis the other day, and now there's only 1 left. He's the chosen chromis, his brothers were eaten by shrimp and hermits. Only the super chromis is left =

 

[jef4y]

Well, it's been almost a week and Popeye is hanging in there. The 'blister' like thing on the top and bottom of the popped eye have disappeared and his eye isn't bugging out as much as it has. He's still bullied but hanging in there!

Stay tuned!

 

[jef4y]

Just wanted to follow up on this in case it comes out in a search for anyone.

Great news. Ole Popeye is now pretty normal. His eye still bulges a bit but he seems no worse for the wear. I've made sure he has been well-fed and kept an eye on him.

He's still bullied a bit, but has a few safe spots that work well for him in the tank.

Just pleased to see that he made it.

 

[rdnelson]

Glad he is doing better. I bought three Blue/Green early on. Lost one after a couple of months and another a couple months after that. The last one is doing fantastic. So, last Friday I was at Imagine Ocean and talking with Jenn and a long time reefer. I brought it up and both of them said that when it comes to Blue/Green always buy two more than you want to end up with. They confirmed that they do better in odd numbers but for some reason, no matter how many you start with, 2 will not make it.

 

[frantz]

My clown recovered from bully induced pop eye on one socket. Chromis are interesting fish. I bought 5 and 3 died, i got 5 more and 3 died again. 4 were alive for a year then one pulled the nemo stunt without his pebble. I recently got 3 more and the schooling became much more prominent with 6 than 3. Maybe larger numbers would help?

 

[jef4y]

Once I get into the 150 I can add another handful but until then I need to stick with what I've got in there.

 

[enderg60]

You always buy at least twice as many chromis as you want to end up with. they are mean little *******s to each other.

 

[gmpolan]

yep purchased 12 and ended up with 7

 

[rdnelson]

Is it worse if you have one or more in the tank and then add some or is it about the same. Wouldn't mind having more than one.

 

[frantz]

Is it worse if you have one or more in the tank and then add some or is it about the same. Wouldn't mind having more than one.

I had 3 for a year and added 3 yesterday, they schooled right away and didn't seem to fight, but that was just day one. The older three seemed happy to have company. We shall see long term. I've heard of people having horrible experience with these schools but I have never witnessed the bullying that many report. Mine are in a lightly stocked 120

 

[jef4y]

Well, the tale ends as of last night. I found ole popeye stuck to the side of the MP40. He didn't look well the last couple of days and I couldn't get him to eat. I think the harrassment just got to him.

Was hoping he could hang in there until we swapped into the big tank which would have given him more room but no such luck.

 

[rdnelson]

Man, I hate to hear that Jeff. :-(

 

[frantz]

Well you must have taken really good care of him, when my chromis started to show signs of anything it was a day at most till they passed. Sorry to hear you little guy didn't make it.

 

[jef4y]

Yeah, it sucks but it is what it is. No more additions until the new tank is up and stable. Then will look for perhaps a good peaceful shoaling fish.