All fish / Pomacentridae

Limbaugh's Chromis

Chromis limbaughi

Also known as limbaugh's damselfish, limbaugh chromis, sea of cortez chromis, cortez blue chromis, limbaughi chromis

A sturdy damselfish from the Sea of Cortez. Adults are dark grey-blue in front and fade towards a pale or yellowish rear, and juveniles are blue and yellow. Keepers value it as a hardy, active open-water fish for fish-only tanks and reef tanks with cooler water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: zooplankton such as mysis and brine shrimp, quality flakes and pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Mexico, including Revillagigedo Islands

Breeding

The male clears a nest site on rock, and the female lays sticky eggs there for him to guard. Spawning sometimes happens in large aquariums, but rearing the tiny planktonic larvae is hard.

Good to know

It becomes more territorial as it grows, so keep it with fish that can hold their own and give it plenty of rockwork. It does best a little cooler than typical tropical reef fish.