All fish / Pomacentridae

Lined Chromis

Chromis lineata

Also known as lined chromis, lined puller

This is a small yellowish-brown damselfish with rows of dark-edged blue spots that form lines along its sides, plus a yellow spot at the base of the rear dorsal fin. It lives in groups that feed on plankton above reefs, and it suits reef aquariums because it is peaceful and leaves corals alone.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Carnivore: zooplankton feeder; give frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and quality marine flakes or pellets several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific: Christmas Island and Indonesia east to Palau, the Solomon Islands and northern Australia

Breeding

Males guard eggs that stick to a cleared patch of hard surface, as in other chromis. Captive breeding is rare because the tiny larvae need live plankton and are very hard to raise.

Good to know

It is not often seen in the trade and is easy to confuse with other small brown chromis. Groups can squabble with each other, so give them plenty of swimming space and rockwork.