Chromis ovalis

(Steindachner, 1900)

Hawaiian Chromis

Range: Central Pacific Ocean: Endemic to Hawaiian Islands.

Size: 7 inches (18 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits inshore and offshore rocky and coral reef at depths between15 to about 150 feet (5 – 45 m) and often found in small shoals where it feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and algae.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and one of the largest in this genus, with juveniles having a bluish body topped in yellow, with the dorsal also yellow. As it grows into adulthood, body becomes mostly yellow with a blue line behind the eye. All have a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.

As with most Chromis species, quite hardy, peaceful, and better maintained in small groups of at least five to seven members. Should be given wide-open swimming areas, as they are open water swimmers almost always in the upper aquarium areas, and non-aggressive tankmates.

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and should be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Pomacentridae

Subfamily: Chrominae

Genus: Chromis

FYI: Even though quite passive and will ignore other fish in the aquarium, larger aquariums, e.g., 75 gallons and above for this species provide far more openness for small shoals to ‘peacefully’ coexist.

If maintained in groups of less than mentioned above, they tend to be over dominate of each other and may force some members into hiding. The bigger the group, the less intergroup picking on each other exists.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Zooplanktivore/Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

Temperature Range: 70 - 82°F (21 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5