ANIMAL: Barrier Reef Chromis Chromis nitida Type of Animal: Damselfish Habitat: Outer sides/edges of coral reefs, lagoons, subtropical estuaries, found at depths of 16-82 ft Location(s): SW Pacific off Australia/eastward Appearance: Small fish w/ yellowish-brown dorsal surface separated by dark stripe from silvery flanks/underside Food/Diet: Algae, zooplankton, brine shrimp, mysid shrimp Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in aquariums, aquaculture, & zoos. Captive breeding reducing demand for wild-caught fish. Lifestyle: Schools of 10-60 fish Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Fry Group: School Weight: 0.6 oz Gestation: 2-3 days Life Span: 8-15 years Body Length: 3-3.5 in Also called Yellowback Puller, Shining Puller, Nitida Chromis, Bicolor Chromis, Doublebar Chromis, Yellow-backed Puller, & Puller. Often found schooling w/ Black-Axil Chromis. Eggs adhesive sticking to seabed. Males guard eggs before they hatch. Often parasitized by parasitic isopod Anilocra pomacentri, which attaches itself just above/behind eye. These parasites cause slowing of growth rate & increased mortality. Active during the day (diurnal). They’re very active fish often on the move. Males often darken during courtship. Breeding pair 1st clears site for nesting, then they engage in mating dance w/ rapid swimming/fin movements. Spawning occurs at dawn. Eggs hatch into independent larvae 2-3 days after being laid. Maturity reached at 1 month old. Fun Fact(s): Nitida part of scientific name derives from Latin word meaning shining/polished/glittering most likely referencing silvery sides. Like many chromis, they’re very difficult to breed in captivity. Uncommon in captivity but fairly common in wild. More commonly kept in Australia than anywhere else & fairly easy to keep.
