Common Names: Vanderbilt’s Chromis, Black-fin Chromis

Scientific Name: Chromis vanderbilti

Origin: Western Pacific (Japan to the Great Barrier Reef and Hawaii)

Max Size: 56 cm (approx. 2 inches) One of the smaller Chromis species.

Lifespan: 35 years

Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive (can be territorial with its own kind)

Diet: Omnivore Primarily a planktonivore

Care Level: Easy

The “Racing Stripes”: Features horizontal alternating lines of blue and iridescent yellow/gold along the entire body.

The Fins: The most striking feature is the jet-black anal fin and the black trim on the lower edge of the tail, which makes the yellow stripes “pop.”

The Tail: A deeply forked, “swallow-tail” design that is tipped in bright yellow.

The Glow: Under reef lighting, the blue stripes have a reflective, metallic quality that catches the light as they dart around.

Schooling Nature: In the wild, they live in massive schools. In an aquarium, they are best kept in odd-numbered groups (3, 5, or 7). However, like all Chromis, they may establish a “pecking order,” and the smallest member of the group may be bullied if the tank is too small.

Activity Level: They are “perpetual motion” fish. They stay in the water column, swimming against the current and looking for drifting food.

Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe. They are completely harmless to corals, clams, and even the smallest ornamental shrimp.

Sleep Habits: At night, they lose their vibrant color and wedge themselves deep into the branches of corals or holes in the rockwork to sleep.

Tank Size: A minimum of 75L115L (2030 Gallons) for a small group.

Flow: They love high-flow environments. They are built to swim in the surge zones of the reef, and strong water movement keeps them healthy and active.

Feeding: Since they have high metabolisms, they prefer being fed small amounts multiple times a day. They love frozen mysis, cyclops, and high-quality crushed flakes or pellets.

Rockwork: Provide branching corals (like Acropora) or “holey” rock. They need a place to “disappear” into instantly if they get spooked.

Common Names: Vanderbilt’s Chromis, Black-fin Chromis

Scientific Name: Chromis vanderbilti

Origin: Western Pacific (Japan to the Great Barrier Reef and Hawaii)

Max Size: 56 cm (approx. 2 inches) One of the smaller Chromis species.

Lifespan: 35 years

Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive (can be territorial with its own kind)

Diet: Omnivore Primarily a planktonivore

Care Level: Easy

The “Racing Stripes”: Features horizontal alternating lines of blue and iridescent yellow/gold along the entire body.

The Fins: The most striking feature is the jet-black anal fin and the black trim on the lower edge of the tail, which makes the yellow stripes “pop.”

The Tail: A deeply forked, “swallow-tail” design that is tipped in bright yellow.

The Glow: Under reef lighting, the blue stripes have a reflective, metallic quality that catches the light as they dart around.

Schooling Nature: In the wild, they live in massive schools. In an aquarium, they are best kept in odd-numbered groups (3, 5, or 7). However, like all Chromis, they may establish a “pecking order,” and the smallest member of the group may be bullied if the tank is too small.

Activity Level: They are “perpetual motion” fish. They stay in the water column, swimming against the current and looking for drifting food.

Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe. They are completely harmless to corals, clams, and even the smallest ornamental shrimp.

Sleep Habits: At night, they lose their vibrant color and wedge themselves deep into the branches of corals or holes in the rockwork to sleep.

Tank Size: A minimum of 75L115L (2030 Gallons) for a small group.

Flow: They love high-flow environments. They are built to swim in the surge zones of the reef, and strong water movement keeps them healthy and active.

Feeding: Since they have high metabolisms, they prefer being fed small amounts multiple times a day. They love frozen mysis, cyclops, and high-quality crushed flakes or pellets.

Rockwork: Provide branching corals (like Acropora) or “holey” rock. They need a place to “disappear” into instantly if they get spooked.