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The Lined Chromis (Chromis vanderbilti), also highly sought-after as the Vanderbilt's Chromis, is a powerhouse addition to any reef or marine community aquarium, blending high-impact aesthetics with essential utility. Featuring an exquisite, intricate color profile, this striking damselfish showcases a metallic blue-to-greenish-silver body decorated with horizontal rows of bright golden-yellow spots and stripes, anchored by a deep black lower edge on its caudal fin. It is a master of the "minimalist reef" era of marine keeping—serving as a natural biological focal point for the mid-to-upper water column. It is a dedicated, exceptionally active schooling fish, making it a functional cornerstone of a dynamic marine ecosystem.
This exceptionally hardy fish thrives in mature, established reef systems with plenty of branching stony corals, stable water parameters, and moderate-to-strong water flow that replicates their native current-swept seaward reefs. While far more peaceful than typical damselfish, they are happiest and exhibit their most comfortable, active, and colorful behaviors when kept in small groups of three to six or more. To ensure long-term health, provide a premium, varied diet consisting of high-quality marine flakes, pellets, and frequent daily feedings of small, vitamin-enriched frozen foods like Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and copepods to support their active, high-metabolism lifestyle.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive (Very peaceful for a damselfish, though males will defend nesting sites)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons (larger for shoals)
Diet: Omnivore / Planktivore (Thrives on multiple small feedings daily)
Reef Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 2–2.5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, Salinity 1.020 to 1.025
The Lined Chromis is a strategic choice for reef hobbyists looking for "shimmering geometric color" and active shoaling dynamics in the upper regions of the aquarium. Their specialized habit of hovering together directly above branching hard corals (Acropora or Pocillopora) adds an incomparable layer of natural, kinetic energy to the upper canopy of your rockwork. In the context of modern reef keeping, they are widely considered the ultimate "high-visibility dither fish" for calming shyer reef residents, as their constant open-water activity signals to other species that it is safe to forage. For maximum success, utilize strong filtration to keep up with their frequent feeding schedules, and provide ample rockwork shelters to accommodate them during nighttime hours.
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your premium marine livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these active reef-dwellers from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Lined Chromis (Chromis vanderbilti), also highly sought-after as the Vanderbilt's Chromis, is a powerhouse addition to any reef or marine community aquarium, blending high-impact aesthetics with essential utility. Featuring an exquisite, intricate color profile, this striking damselfish showcases a metallic blue-to-greenish-silver body decorated with horizontal rows of bright golden-yellow spots and stripes, anchored by a deep black lower edge on its caudal fin. It is a master of the "minimalist reef" era of marine keeping—serving as a natural biological focal point for the mid-to-upper water column. It is a dedicated, exceptionally active schooling fish, making it a functional cornerstone of a dynamic marine ecosystem.
This exceptionally hardy fish thrives in mature, established reef systems with plenty of branching stony corals, stable water parameters, and moderate-to-strong water flow that replicates their native current-swept seaward reefs. While far more peaceful than typical damselfish, they are happiest and exhibit their most comfortable, active, and colorful behaviors when kept in small groups of three to six or more. To ensure long-term health, provide a premium, varied diet consisting of high-quality marine flakes, pellets, and frequent daily feedings of small, vitamin-enriched frozen foods like Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and copepods to support their active, high-metabolism lifestyle.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive (Very peaceful for a damselfish, though males will defend nesting sites)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons (larger for shoals)
Diet: Omnivore / Planktivore (Thrives on multiple small feedings daily)
Reef Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 2–2.5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, Salinity 1.020 to 1.025
The Lined Chromis is a strategic choice for reef hobbyists looking for "shimmering geometric color" and active shoaling dynamics in the upper regions of the aquarium. Their specialized habit of hovering together directly above branching hard corals (Acropora or Pocillopora) adds an incomparable layer of natural, kinetic energy to the upper canopy of your rockwork. In the context of modern reef keeping, they are widely considered the ultimate "high-visibility dither fish" for calming shyer reef residents, as their constant open-water activity signals to other species that it is safe to forage. For maximum success, utilize strong filtration to keep up with their frequent feeding schedules, and provide ample rockwork shelters to accommodate them during nighttime hours.
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your premium marine livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these active reef-dwellers from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
