Blue Chromis

About

The blue chromis (Chromis cyanea) is one of those fish that genuinely earns its place in a reef system through behavior rather than just looks. Found throughout the western Atlantic, from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico down through the Caribbean, these fish congregate in loose groups above coral heads and rocky outcrops, picking planktonic food from the water column. That active, mid-water lifestyle translates really well to the aquarium. A small group will spend most of their time swimming in the open, giving a tank a sense of life and movement that a lot of other reef fish simply don't provide. The coloration is a clean, solid blue with a darker-edged tail that sets them apart from similarly shaped damsels. They're related to damsels, actually, but tend to be considerably more peaceable, making them a reasonable choice for community reef systems alongside other non-aggressive species. That said, they're not completely without attitude. Individuals can squabble among themselves, especially in smaller groups, so keeping a larger odd-numbered shoal tends to spread out any aggression. They feed readily on most small prepared and frozen foods, with a preference for items they can take mid-column.