Black Bar Chromis
Chromis retrofasciata
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 1.25 - 2.25" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $26.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 1.25" or smaller - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $26.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99. | Email me |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Black Bar Chromis (Chromis retrofasciata, often listed as Pycnochromis retrofasciatus) is a small reef chromis with a yellow-to-peach body and a distinct dark band near the back half of the fish. In nature it’s seen hovering in loose groups around branching corals, which translates well to reef tanks that have open water and structure to weave through.
What You’ll Observe:
- Steady mid-water hovering with short, quick dashes back to cover
- A “loose school” look—individuals spread out, then regroup in the same zone
- Most activity in the brighter part of the photoperiod, especially around feeding time
- Confident feeding in the water column when small foods are broadcast
To do well, provide open swimming room plus branching rockwork or coral-like structure to hover around. Offer small, suspended foods (fine frozen blends, small pellets) in a few small feedings so they can eat naturally in the water column. Many hobbyists get the most consistent group behavior by adding an odd-number group together at the same time.
Will they actually “school” like Green Chromis?
They usually form a loose group rather than a tight bait-ball school, often holding position together in one area and regrouping after feeding.
Do they mix well with other Chromis species?
They can mix in larger reef tanks, but many keepers prefer a single chromis species group so the fish settle into one consistent social structure.
Where do they go at night?
Most pick a regular sleeping spot in the rockwork or within branching structure and return to the same area night after night once settled.
Do they change color under different lighting?
Yes—under heavy blue lighting the yellow can look more muted, while whiter spectrum lighting tends to show more of the warm body color and the contrast of the bar.
How fast do they “settle in” and start acting normal?
A common pattern is exploratory swimming the first day or two, then a repeatable routine—same hover zone, same feeding response—once they recognize the tank’s flow and structure.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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