Basslets

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

If you have a large tank is absolutely worth it to get a group of them! I love how social my group of 4 blackcaps are in my 200. The largest cruises around the tank visiting the other's dens and showing his mouth off to keep them in line. I introduced them together and I've never seen them actually fight, they just do their mouth display at each other.

I always found it odd that while diving, I will see large groups of royal gramma (mixed sizes) in overhangs, but if you try to mix them in smaller tanks, they often fight. Blackcaps live deeper and are rarer, so I can't recall seeing them in groups really. I think your larger tank size helps a lot with that.....

 

[blazn]

My gramma is a fierce little fellow that attacks my gravel siphon when it gets in his territory. All the other fish cower.

My gramma, which I’ve had over a decade, while a fairly peaceful tank mate, also will typically show the siphon who’s the boss!

Royal Grammas have always been a favorite of mine, as I love their temperament and color, and I expect I’ll always have one.

 

[Griev]

I always found it odd that while diving, I will see large groups of royal gramma (mixed sizes) in overhangs, but if you try to mix them in smaller tanks, they often fight. Blackcaps live deeper and are rarer, so I can't recall seeing them in groups really. I think your larger tank size helps a lot with that.....

Most likely. They spend most of their time swimming together or pretty close but each have their own den they return to that are spaced out pretty evenly throughout the tank.

 

[Griev]

Here's my group hanging out together;

 

[cdemoss01]

Ay nice you posted it! Love Royal Grammas!

 

[RobertK]

I've had two royal grammas in my 70 gallon 4-foot tank for the last 6 months, and I've never seen any aggression from them. They do spend most of their time at opposite ends of the tank, but I've seen them hanging out together a number of times seemingly enjoying each others' company. They are captive bred from Biota. I did not intend to get two of them. They were both pretty small when I got them. The first one disappeared after a couple weeks and I thought it was dead, so I bought another one. Two months later I found the first one alive and well in my overflow! The overflow is covered so he didn't jump in, he must have slipped between the teeth since he was so small. So now I have two.

 

[RimrockReef]

I've had two royal grammas in my 70 gallon 4-foot tank for the last 6 months, and I've never seen any aggression from them. They do spend most of their time at opposite ends of the tank, but I've seen them hanging out together a number of times seemingly enjoying each others' company. They are captive bred from Biota. I did not intend to get two of them. They were both pretty small when I got them. The first one disappeared after a couple weeks and I thought it was dead, so I bought another one. Two months later I found the first one alive and well in my overflow! The overflow is covered so he didn't jump in, he must have slipped between the teeth since he was so small. So now I have two.

That's amazing, glad he made it!

 

[christinna77]

Anyone ever had an aggressive blue assessor? MacNeill one. For the past week, I noticed mine sometimes chases and nips the purple fiefish. They were quarantined together and placed into DT at the same time around 2m ago, and never really had issues until now. 75 gal with plenty of hideouts, although they both sleep in the same cave. Around the same size too.

The only other fish is a starry blenny that mostly mines its own business.

I also just added a new fish to the tank today, a tilefish, twice as big as the assessor, and I noticed it already has a small bite mark too.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Anyone ever had an aggressive blue assessor? MacNeill one. For the past week, I noticed mine sometimes chases and nips the purple fiefish. They were quarantined together and placed into DT at the same time around 2m ago, and never really had issues until now. 75 gal with plenty of hideouts, although they both sleep in the same cave. Around the same size too.

The only other fish is a starry blenny that mostly mines its own business.

I also just added a new fish to the tank today, a tilefish, twice as big as the assessor, and I noticed it already has a small bite mark too.

I've not kept those species together, but that is some serious aggression - you should think about separating them.

 

[christinna77]

Anyone ever had an aggressive blue assessor? MacNeill one. For the past week, I noticed mine sometimes chases and nips the purple fiefish. They were quarantined together and placed into DT at the same time around 2m ago, and never really had issues until now. 75 gal with plenty of hideouts, although they both sleep in the same cave. Around the same size too.

The only other fish is a starry blenny that mostly mines its own business.

I also just added a new fish to the tank today, a tilefish, twice as big as the assessor, and I noticed it already has a small bite mark too.

I've not kept those species together, but that is some serious aggression - you should think about separating them.

Thank you, it's definitely the plan if I see it continue today. It got worse with the addition of the tilefish too - I think it took the assessor's spot in the cave, and because the tilefish is too big to bully, it redirected its aggression to the firefish.

 

[Nano Reef Guy]

I currently have a royal gramma and blackcap innmy 29 gal Biocube. No aggression at all. They seem to ignore each other. Now I am thinking about adding a Cuban basslet. Has anyone done this before?

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

Hey sorry if this was already said- I may have missed it- what species of basslet is shown in the opening picture? @Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey sorry if this was already said- I may have missed it- what species of basslet is shown in the opening picture? @Jay Hemdal

It is a Serranus from West Africa. I acquired it something like 20 years ago. I think it is Serranus pulcher. Here is an article by Joe Rowlett about it:

https://reefs.com/beautiful-new-species-serranus-bass-western-africa/

 

[Cthulukelele]

Always wanted a yellow assessor, it’s cool they are CB, can get one from ORA. I have two basslets. A Chalk bass, and a Blackcap. I think a chalk bass is a must have. Peaceful, strikes for food quickly like already mentioned, and once established an active water column swimmer, though attinic lighting is preferred I can see. Blackcap is neat also, does the upside down Assessor like swimming.

Do you have any larger cleaner shrimp? I really want a chalk bass everyone I know who has one loves them (especially long term aquarists who value fish that display calm and show the water column is "safe" to other fish) but I have a very large fire shrimp I'd like to not become a snack after having for 3 or 4 years

 

[Nordy]

Do you have any larger cleaner shrimp? I really want a chalk bass everyone I know who has one loves them (especially long term aquarists who value fish that display calm and show the water column is "safe" to other fish) but I have a very large fire shrimp I'd like to not become a snack after having for 3 or 4 years

I have a fire shrimp, haven’t seen it in ages, but it molted the other day. I throw peppermint shrimp in once in a while, not sure how they do with the Chalk bass, my water temp might be on the warm side for peppermint shrimp to have longevity. Get one that is CB, I think you would be okay. I Call my Chalk bass Yuletide, such a show off!!

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Captive bred chalk bass? ORA had a batch last February, but I haven’t seen them since. Did they arrive really small?

we have them all the time. from multiple breeders

 

[Nordy]

Basslets are such a delightful fish! Lost my Blackcap a few months ago. Just vanished, would enjoy seeing a group or harem of those together. I could never pick a favorite fish. I think so many species show there personalities in the right setup that make them a jewel to keep. However, my Chalk Bass is very highly regarded. This is its normal pose when I come to the tank.