The Green Chromis, Chromis viridis, is among the most commonly found in people’s aquariums. The reasons for this are numerous: They’re pretty to look at with their blue-green coloration, they’re relatively easy to care for, they’re affordable, and they’re active and provide entertainment value.
If you’re curious to know whether this fish is right for your tank, read through our care guide and we’ll help you make your decision.
One of the many reasons for the Chromis’s popularity is its reef-safe nature. You can easily and safely add this fish to your reef tank and never need to worry about nips at coral or attacks on invertebrates. The Green Chromis is more likely to go after the algae that surround these organisms.
As planktivores, Green Chromis tend to feed on copepods, fish larvae, fish eggs, Mysis shrimp, and algae. You can also acclimate them to pellets and flakes. Just remember that these fish are highly active, making it important to feed them on a regular basis to keep them healthy and in good shape. You’ll generally need to feed these fish multiple times daily, giving them around three meals.
Green Chromis tend to prefer to live in groups as opposed to alone, but you can keep a single Green Chromis. Generally, you should try to keep around six to seven Green Chromis in your tank to ensure they feel protected. Grouping them will also make them less stressed in general.
As a hardy fish, the Green Chromis can live for up to eight to 15 years with proper care. The key is to create the ideal clean and healthy environment with plenty of food. You will need to feed these fish multiple times per day.
This particular species can take a long time to grow, with many taking around four years or longer to reach their full size of three to four inches. This gives you some time to wait until they require a new home if you don’t have a bigger tank to start with.
The Green Chromis is a highly affordable fish and won’t cost you much to add to your tank. At most shops, you’ll find this fish for sale at around $10 to $35.
The following are a few interesting facts about the Green Chromis you might want to know:
Another aspect of the Green Chromis is its ability to get along with other fish in your tank. They get along well with each other, of course, considering they tend to travel in shoals, but you can also trust that they’ll work well together with other species.
Specifically, some ideal tank mates for the Green Chromis include a variety of community fish such as butterflies, basslets, and blennies. While you can keep them with larger and more aggressive fish in some environments, make sure these tank mates aren’t causing trouble. Otherwise, you may want to keep your Chromis with other more docile fish.
Looking for a place to buy a Green Chromis? There are plenty of shops that carry them, including:
The Green Chromis is an agreeable fish that can flourish in most tanks, including reef tanks. Its combined affability, appeal, and affordability make it a great fish for everyone from beginners to avid fishkeepers.