Tropical Fish Species

Basslets

Basslets are quite popular among marine aquarists due to their vibrant colors, small size, and ease of care. Although they belong to the family of fishes that include the giant predatory groupers, Basslets only grow to a length of no more than 2-4 inches.

They are found mainly near the Western Atlantic, where they live in and around coral reefs and hunt for zooplankton and other tiny creatures. In the home aquarium, Basslets should be provided with lots of rocks and caves which they will dart into at the first sign of danger.

They are generally hardy fishes but still require good filtration and high water quality. Their diet should include a variety of high quality protein based foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill, etc.

Many species of Basslets are quite territorial and can be aggressive toward similar looking fishes, so it is best to house only one per tank (unless you have a large tank with a lot of rock structures to retreat to). They should not be kept with aggressive or predatory species, otherwise they will likely end up as a quick little snack!

Basslets have been successfully bred in captivity but it is by no means easy to accomplish. It is difficult to distinguish between the sexes, though sometimes males will be larger and have brighter coloration. After the eggs hatch, the fry go through a larval stage and require specialized food and care

Basslets Care

TankConditions: 72-78°F; sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12

Compatibility: Boxfish, Butterflies, Cardinalfish, Chromis, Clownfish, Damsels, Filefish, Foxface and Rabbitfish, Gobies, Grunts and Sweetlips, Jawfish, Hawkfish, Squirrelfish, Tangs and Surgeons, Wrasse, Live Corals, Live Rocks and Sand, Invertebrates.