{"id":11202,"date":"2026-02-17T22:41:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/pygmy-chromis-chromis-acares\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T22:41:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:41:10","slug":"pygmy-chromis-chromis-acares","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=pygmy-chromis-chromis-acares","title":{"rendered":"Pygmy Chromis Chromis Acares"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pygmy Chromis (Chromis acares)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Pygmy Chromis is one of the smallest members of the chromis family, rarely exceeding 4\u20135 cm (1.5\u20132 inches)<\/strong> in length. It has a delicate, slender body that shimmers blue-green with a hint of gold depending on the lighting. Its small size, peaceful schooling nature, and gentle activity make it an ideal choice for nano to medium reef aquariums.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Native to the Central and Western Pacific<\/strong>, including the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Tonga, and French Polynesia. Found in large shoals hovering above coral-rich reef slopes, lagoons, and outer reefs.<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A planktivorous omnivore<\/strong> that readily accepts aquarium foods:<\/p>\n

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    High-quality marine micro-pellets and flakes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Frozen mysis shrimp, cyclops, and enriched brine shrimp<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Occasional finely chopped seafood<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Algae- or spirulina-based foods for balance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Feed small amounts 2\u20133 times daily<\/strong> to mimic natural grazing behaviour.<\/p>\n

    Tank Mates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The Pygmy Chromis is very peaceful and mixes well with most reef-safe fish, including:<\/p>\n

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      Clownfish<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Gobies and blennies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Small reef wrasses<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Cardinalfish<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Other peaceful chromis species<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Avoid aggressive tank mates, as their small size makes them vulnerable.<\/p>\n

      Aggression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Peaceful.<\/strong> Unlike some larger chromis, they are less likely to bully conspecifics. They are best kept in small groups (5\u20137 individuals)<\/strong> where they display attractive shoaling behaviour.<\/p>\n

      Experience Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Beginner-friendly.<\/strong> Hardy, non-aggressive, and easy to feed, making them an excellent choice for aquarists of all levels, including those with nano reef systems.<\/p>\n

      Water Parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Temperature:<\/strong> 24\u201327\u00b0C (75\u201381\u00b0F)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        pH:<\/strong> 8.1\u20138.4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Salinity:<\/strong> 1.020\u20131.025 SG<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Hardness (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201312<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 20 gallons (75L)<\/strong> for a small group; larger aquariums allow for more natural shoaling<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Provide open water for schooling with plenty of coral or rock cover for retreat.<\/p>\n

        Reef Compatibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Reef safe.<\/strong> Will not harm corals or invertebrates and are an excellent small schooling species for reef aquariums.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Pygmy Chromis (Chromis acares) Overview The Pygmy Chromis is one of the smallest members of the chromis family, rarely exceeding 4\u20135 cm (1.5\u20132 inches) in length. It has a delicate, slender body that shimmers blue-green with a hint of gold depending on the lighting. Its small size, peaceful schooling nature, and gentle activity make it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11201,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[133],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11202","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-marine-chromis","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/11202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=11202"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=11202"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=11202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}