diff --git a/mem0/vector_stores/chroma.py b/mem0/vector_stores/chroma.py
index 63818a5bae..d17d876d2e 100644
--- a/mem0/vector_stores/chroma.py
+++ b/mem0/vector_stores/chroma.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.client = chromadb.CloudClient(
                 api_key=api_key,
                 tenant=tenant,
-                database="mem0"  # Use fixed database name for cloud
+                database="mem0",  # Use fixed database name for cloud
             )
         else:
             # Initialize local or server client
@@ -83,26 +83,37 @@ def _parse_output(self, data: Dict) -> List[OutputData]:
         Returns:
             List[OutputData]: Parsed output data.
         """
-        keys = ["ids", "distances", "metadatas"]
-        values = []
+        # Fast-path: Try to reduce the number of isinstance checks and temporary lists
+        ids = data.get("ids", [])
+        distances = data.get("distances", [])
+        metadatas = data.get("metadatas", [])
+
+        # If the first element is itself a list, flatten it (matching original behavior)
+        if isinstance(ids, list) and ids and isinstance(ids[0], list):
+            ids = ids[0]
+        if isinstance(distances, list) and distances and isinstance(distances[0], list):
+            distances = distances[0]
+        if isinstance(metadatas, list) and metadatas and isinstance(metadatas[0], list):
+            metadatas = metadatas[0]
+
+        # Pre-calculate lengths ONCE; avoids repeated len() calls
+        ids_len = len(ids) if isinstance(ids, list) else 0
+        distances_len = len(distances) if isinstance(distances, list) else 0
+        metadatas_len = len(metadatas) if isinstance(metadatas, list) else 0
+        max_length = max(ids_len, distances_len, metadatas_len)
+
+        # Hoist .append to local for slight efficiency
+        result: List["OutputData"] = []
+        append = result.append
 
-        for key in keys:
-            value = data.get(key, [])
-            if isinstance(value, list) and value and isinstance(value[0], list):
-                value = value[0]
-            values.append(value)
-
-        ids, distances, metadatas = values
-        max_length = max(len(v) for v in values if isinstance(v, list) and v is not None)
-
-        result = []
         for i in range(max_length):
-            entry = OutputData(
-                id=ids[i] if isinstance(ids, list) and ids and i < len(ids) else None,
-                score=(distances[i] if isinstance(distances, list) and distances and i < len(distances) else None),
-                payload=(metadatas[i] if isinstance(metadatas, list) and metadatas and i < len(metadatas) else None),
+            append(
+                OutputData(
+                    id=ids[i] if i < ids_len else None,
+                    score=distances[i] if i < distances_len else None,
+                    payload=metadatas[i] if i < metadatas_len else None,
+                )
             )
-            result.append(entry)
 
         return result
 
@@ -247,16 +258,16 @@ def reset(self):
     def _generate_where_clause(where: dict[str, any]) -> dict[str, any]:
         """
         Generate a properly formatted where clause for ChromaDB.
-        
+
         Args:
             where (dict[str, any]): The filter conditions.
-            
+
         Returns:
             dict[str, any]: Properly formatted where clause for ChromaDB.
         """
         if where is None:
             return {}
-        
+
         def convert_condition(key: str, value: any) -> dict:
             """Convert universal filter format to ChromaDB format."""
             if value == "*":
@@ -292,9 +303,9 @@ def convert_condition(key: str, value: any) -> dict:
             else:
                 # Simple equality
                 return {key: {"$eq": value}}
-        
+
         processed_filters = []
-        
+
         for key, value in where.items():
             if key == "$or":
                 # Handle OR conditions
@@ -307,22 +318,22 @@ def convert_condition(key: str, value: any) -> dict:
                             or_condition.update(converted)
                     if or_condition:
                         or_conditions.append(or_condition)
-                
+
                 if len(or_conditions) > 1:
                     processed_filters.append({"$or": or_conditions})
                 elif len(or_conditions) == 1:
                     processed_filters.append(or_conditions[0])
-            
+
             elif key == "$not":
                 # Handle NOT conditions - ChromaDB doesn't have direct NOT, so we'll skip for now
                 continue
-                
+
             else:
                 # Regular condition
                 converted = convert_condition(key, value)
                 if converted:
                     processed_filters.append(converted)
-        
+
         # Return appropriate format based on number of conditions
         if len(processed_filters) == 0:
             return {}