Black Bar Chromis

Black Bar Chromis Overview

• Common Name: Black Bar Chromis

• Scientific Name: Chromis retrofasciata

• Family: Pomacentridae (same as clownfish and other damselfish)

• Origin: Western Pacific – including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Great Barrier Reef

• Size: Up to 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)

• Lifespan: 5–8 years with proper care

🌈 Appearance

• Body Color: Yellow to yellowish-white body with a prominent vertical black bar running behind the eyes (hence the name “black bar”)

• Fins: Often semi-transparent with slight yellow or white hues

• Shape: Typical chromis/damselfish shape – small, oval, and laterally compressed

🏝️ Natural Habitat

• Found on outer reef slopes, lagoons, and coral-rich areas

• Lives in small to medium schools, often near branching coral heads (especially Acropora)

🐠 Aquarium Care

Tank Requirements:

• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for a small group (larger is better for schooling)

• Best Setup:

  • Plenty of live rock for shelter and grazing

  • Open swimming space

  • Gentle to moderate water flow

Water Parameters:

• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)

• pH: 8.1–8.4

• Salinity: 1.020–1.025

• Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm

• Nitrates: <20 ppm preferred

🍽️ Diet

• Feeding Type: Omnivore

• Diet:

  • Frozen mysis and brine shrimp

  • High-quality marine pellets and flakes

  • Enriched zooplankton or copepods

  • Occasional algae-based foods or spirulina

• Feeding Frequency: 1–2 times daily

• Not picky eaters — very easy to feed

🤝 Behavior & Compatibility

• Temperament: Generally peaceful

• Schooling Behavior: Best kept in odd-numbered groups (3, 5, or more) to minimize hierarchy aggression

• Aggression: Can be a little pushy with conspecifics or smaller peaceful fish in tight spaces, but usually calm

• Reef Safe: ✅ Yes — won’t harm corals or inverts

• Good Tankmates:

  • Clownfish

  • Gobies

  • Cardinalfish

  • Wrasses

  • Tangs

  • Other peaceful to semi-aggressive reef fish

✅ Pros

• Attractive and distinctive coloration

• Hardy and beginner-friendly

• Peaceful and reef safe

• Active swimmers — add life and movement to the tank

• Compatible with many common community fish

❌ Cons

• Can show intra-species aggression in small tanks or pairs

• Less colorful than some other chromis species

• May fade in color slightly with age or poor diet

💡 Tips for Success

• Keep in small odd-numbered groups (3–7) in tanks over 30–40 gallons

• Use plenty of rockwork with caves and hiding spots

• Supplement with vitamin-enriched foods to keep color vibrant

• Monitor group dynamics — if one fish becomes overly dominant, it may need to be removed

Summary

“Available to order” means this item is not in store right now. It can be ordered and delivered within 5–7 working days. Please confirm availability before you order.