Midget Chromis

About

The Midget Chromis (Chromis acares) earns its name honestly, topping out at just a couple of inches even as a fully grown adult. In the wild, this small damselfish ranges widely across the central and south Pacific, from the Mariana Islands out to Hawaii and the Society Islands, with possible appearances as far west as the eastern Indian Ocean. Out on the reef, groups of them hover in aggregations along the upper edges of seaward slopes, picking planktonic food from the water column above live coral and rubble. They're an open-water feeder by nature, so expect them to spend most of their time in the mid to upper levels of the aquarium rather than hiding near the bottom. Like other members of the genus, males take an active role in reproduction, guarding and fanning the adhesive eggs after spawning. In a home aquarium, the Midget Chromis is a reasonable choice for someone still building experience with saltwater fish. Its small footprint means it doesn't need a sprawling tank, and its omnivorous appetite makes feeding straightforward. Keeping a small group rather than a lone individual tends to bring out the most natural behavior and gives the tank a livelier feel.