Half & Half Chromis

The Half & Half Chromis is a striking and elegantly patterned damselfish whose body is distinctly divided into two contrasting halves. The front portion of the body is bright white to pale cream, while the rear half transitions sharply to dark chocolate brown or black, creating a bold two-tone appearance that is instantly recognizable on the reef. This clean division of color, reminiscent of a cookie dipped in chocolate, has earned it the charming alternate name of Chocolate Dip Chromis.

In the wild, Chromis dimidiata is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East African coast through to Indonesia and the central Pacific. It inhabits outer reef slopes and steep drop-offs where it forms small to moderate aggregations in the water column, typically at depths of 5 to 35 meters. Like other Chromis species, it feeds on zooplankton carried by reef currents while maintaining proximity to coral structures that serve as refuge from predators.

In the home aquarium, the Half & Half Chromis is hardy and easy to care for, making it well-suited for beginner marine aquarists. It thrives in small groups of three to five individuals in tanks of 30 gallons or more. Its peaceful temperament and completely reef-safe nature make it an excellent community fish that coexists well with virtually all other peaceful reef inhabitants. The dramatic two-tone coloration provides a unique visual contrast to the more uniformly colored fish typically found in reef aquariums.