Blue chromis
Chromis cyanea
Also known as Blue Reef Chromis, Caribbean Blue Chromis, Atlantic Blue Chromis
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Origin
- Western Atlantic from Florida and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Venezuela, above coral reef slopes.
Overview
The blue chromis is a peaceful, reef-safe schooling fish for open water, and one of the better choices for a reef. It is a step up from a first saltwater fish.
Did you know
A shoal of blue chromis drifting over the rockwork is one of the simplest ways to add steady movement to a reef display.
Caring for the blue chromis
Keep blue chromis in a shoal of five or more, in a tank of at least 53 gal (200 L). Give them open swimming water and steady flow. The water should sit at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
Feed frequent small meals of mysis, enriched brine, flake and pellets. Blue chromis hold their vivid blue in good conditions.
A tight group looks best, and keeping several helps spread out any minor squabbling. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
The blue chromis, Chromis cyanea, is a slender, bright blue damselfish in the family Pomacentridae. It is the Atlantic counterpart to the many blue-green Chromis of the Pacific. Chromis damselfish are among the most abundant fish on many reefs.
In the wild
The blue chromis lives in the western Atlantic, from Florida and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Venezuela. It hovers in loose shoals above the reef slopes, feeding on plankton in the current and up in the water column. Unlike territorial damsels, it relies on the group and open space rather than a rock hole.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The blue chromis is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Coral beauty angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Cinnamon clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus
Saltwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Skilletfish
Gobiesox strumosus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (76 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a blue chromis need?
A blue chromis needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a blue chromis need?
A blue chromis is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a blue chromis eat?
A blue chromis eats frequent small meals of mysis, enriched brine, flake and pellets.
How big does a blue chromis get?
An adult blue chromis reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Does a blue chromis need a group?
Yes. A blue chromis is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Black-axil chromis
Chromis atripectoralis
4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Green chromis
Chromis viridis
3.1 in (8 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Saddleback clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus
5.1 in (13 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Clark's clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Domino damsel
Dascyllus trimaculatus
5.5 in (14 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Orange skunk clownfish
Amphiprion sandaracinos
5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)