All fish / Pomacentridae

Brown Chromis

Azurina multilineata

Also known as brown chromis, grey chromis, gray chromis, yellow-edge chromis, chromis multilineata, multilined chromis, 多线光鳃鱼

A greyish brown damselfish with a yellow tip to the dorsal fin, yellowish edges to the tail lobes and a dark spot at the pectoral fin base. It is a hardy, active schooling fish from Caribbean reefs, kept for its toughness and lively open water swimming.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more in a large tank, or singly

Diet

Omnivore: zooplankton substitutes such as mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and quality marine flake or pellets, fed several times daily

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic from Florida and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Brazil; also Eastern Atlantic islands

Breeding

Males prepare a nest on hard substrate and guard the sticky eggs laid by females. Spawning has occurred in large aquariums but rearing the tiny planktonic larvae is difficult.

Good to know

Recently moved from Chromis to Azurina, so it may still be sold under the old name. It grows larger and can be more quarrelsome than the blue green chromis, so give plenty of swimming room.