All fish / Pomacentridae

Purple Reef Chromis

Chromis scotti

Also known as purple chromis, scott's chromis, purple reef fish, blue chromis scotti, パープルリーフクロミス, 斯氏光鳃鱼

A small, rich blue to violet damselfish from deeper Caribbean reefs, with a forked tail and a gently rounded body. It is kept for its striking colour, hardiness and calmer nature compared with most damsels, making it a good reef-safe choice.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or a group of 5 or more in a larger tank

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, quality flakes and pellets, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: Florida, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to Colombia

Breeding

Males clear a nest site on rock and guard demersal eggs that hatch in a few days. The tiny pelagic larvae need rotifers and copepods, so captive rearing is rarely achieved at home.

Good to know

Colour can fade to blue-grey with age or stress, and adults may become territorial towards their own kind in small tanks. Often confused with the larger blue chromis, Chromis cyanea, which has black edges on the tail.