All fish / Pomacentridae

Green Chromis

Chromis viridis

Also known as blue green chromis, blue-green chromis, green chromis damsel, chromis, green damsel, viridis chromis, デバスズメダイ, betok hijau, 绿光鳃鱼, 青魔

A small, shimmering pale green to blue damselfish that hovers in groups above branching corals. It is popular because it is hardy, reef safe and much calmer than most damsels, adding steady movement to the middle of a reef tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more, ideally an odd number in a larger tank

Diet

Omnivore: frozen mysis and brine shrimp, copepods, marine flakes and pellets, fed small amounts several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Line Islands and Great Barrier Reef

Breeding

Males prepare a nest on the substrate and court several females, then guard the sticky eggs until they hatch after a few days. Spawning happens in aquaria, but rearing the tiny pelagic larvae is difficult and needs rotifers and copepods.

Good to know

Groups can thin out as dominant fish bully weaker ones, so give plenty of space and add them together. Most are wild caught and can carry parasites such as marine velvet, so quarantine new arrivals.