Species:
Chromis viridis
Other Common Names for the Green Chromis:
Green Chromis
Description:
There are over 385 species of fishes in the Pomacentridae family. That family contains a subfamily called “Chominae.” This subfamily is home to over 80 species of Chromis. The Green Chromis has a very wide distribution and can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They inhabit lagoons and reefs ranging from Madagascar to the Philippines to Hawaii.
Covered in iridescent hues of blue and green with no discernable markings, a group of green chromis shimmering in your aquarium is a beautiful display. Their little fins are all transparent and feature tiny rays. They are a smaller fish, only growing to 3-4 inches in length. A single Green Chromis is perfect for any size tank. They do prefer to shoal in groups. For a small group of Green Chromis (4-6), it is recommended to have a tank that is at least 30 gallons or larger as they will need some swimming space.
Diet:
Green Chromis are omnivores. They will feed on a wide range of foods. On their own, they will scavenge for small bites like tiny shrimp and algae. They will enjoy a varied diet consisting of flakes, pellet food, high-quality frozen foods, and some meaty foods, such as brine and mysis shrimp.
Behavior:
Being from the damselfish family, one would expect Green Chromis to be a little more aggressive. However, these little gems are very peaceful. The only aggression you will see is within their own group/species. They will occasionally nip and chase each other to establish a pecking order. (Somebody has to be the boss, right?) During waking hours, the Green Chromis hang out in the front of your tank. They are not shy fish. At night, they will find a cave or a safe area and sleep as a group. Green Chromis are easy to care for and make a great addition to any mixed reef.
1 comment
Doug Haynes
I have to disagree on the aggression! I have two, one small and one large and they have both killed other fish with their tail barbs. I’m new to reef keeping but I’ve already lost a smallish blue tang to the small one and a nice big fox face rabbit fish to my larger chromis. I didn’t know what was happening until it was too late and my fish were severely wounded. Now I’m not sure if I should add more chromis to keep any fighting within species or just rehome them.