All fish / Pomacentridae

One-spot puller

Chromis hypsilepis

Also known as one-spot puller, onespot puller, one spot chromis, brown puller, single-spot puller, 高鳞光鳃鱼

A fairly large, deep-bodied chromis that is dusky grey-brown, with a pale spot below the rear of the dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail. It comes from cool subtropical rocky reefs, where it gathers in schools above the reef to pick plankton from the water, so it suits large temperate or subtropical marine systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

18 to 24 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: zooplankton such as mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and quality marine pellets, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Southwest Pacific: eastern Australia (New South Wales, southern Queensland), Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and northern New Zealand

Breeding

Males clear a nest site on rock, and the female lays sticky eggs there for the male to guard until they hatch. Captive breeding is rarely reported, and raising the tiny pelagic larvae would be very difficult.

Good to know

It lives in cooler water than most reef fish and does poorly when kept warm for long periods. Adults grow bigger and get pushier than the small tropical chromis, so it needs plenty of swimming room.