Ambon Chromis

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Western Indo-Pacific, ranging from Indonesia and the Philippines to Samoa, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. Inhabits outer reef slopes down to 70 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Pomacentridae. Features an oval, compressed body shape. Reaches a maximum standard length of 9 cm. Fin profile is clean and streamlined.

Social Behavior: Highly social, shoaling species. Forms large schools that active swim in open water above reefs to feed, returning to corals for shelter.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Greyish-gold to brownish base color with subtle purplish iridescence. Prominent dark spot located at the base of the pectoral fin. No obvious sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a minimum tank size of 120 liters with plenty of open swimming space and structured rockwork for shelter.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Feed frozen foods like artemia, mysis, and copepods, supplemented with high-quality flakes and pellets.

Water Quality: Standard reef parameters: stable temperature 24-28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity 1.020-1.025 with moderate water circulation.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Highly compatible with peaceful reef-safe fishes. Must be kept in a group of at least 6 individuals to maintain natural schooling dynamics.

Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous. Spawns adhesive eggs on clean rock surfaces or crevices. The male assumes the role of guarding and fanning the nest site.

Risks and Diseases: Hardy and active species. Ensure regular water changes and efficient filtration to prevent the accumulation of dissolved organic wastes.