Does anyone keep Chalk Bass (Serranus Tortugarum)?

[Zionas]

Hi all, does anyone keep Chalk Bass? If you do, how many of them? Best in pairs or more? Do they eat all frozen and dry, and how long do they live for?

Does anyone keep a captive bred one or more from ORA?

Thanks.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have had several them. They used to be cheap-- but like most fish, the price has really climbed. I have kept a single Chalk Bass in a 20 gallon tank, and it 'seemed' happy; I think the recommendation is probably more like a 30-40 gallon. I have also had 6 in a 150 gallon. It appeared to go well for quite some time, but eventually aggression and a pecking order developed. The most-picked-on died. Them two of the others either had their eyes pecked at (causing injury), or got chased to where they injured their eyes by scraping rocks. Currently I have two (2) in a 150 gallon, and each stays by rock structures on each side of the tank; so that seems to be a sweet-spent number. In the right lighting the blue hue can really pop.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Its a great fish, very peaceful with other fish. I had one for 2 years. Its a jumper though, it jumped out so many times and then one day it jumped when I wasn't home :crying-face:

 

[JumboShrimp]

(That's a good point about jumping. I tried to net one to get it out of a half-filled tank and I believe in all the jumping it must have come down hard on a rock; it's still alive, but seems to have suffered an unfortunate 'spinal cord' injury.) :(

 

[Zionas]

Ouch. Looks like a tight-fitting lid is a must but then it should be a thing for any kind of fish.

Was there much of a hassle getting them to take flake and pellet?

 

[Doctorgori]

Peaceful, ok in groups…I have two
Inexpensive from KP Aquatics, recommend QT

 

[rasthavis]

I have 3 in a 55 gal tank with a Royal Gramma for company and lots of macro algae. They eat brine shrimp and small pellets. They chase each other away when feeding but otherwise are passive.

 

[Paul B]

Very peaceful and colorful fish. Never had any problems with them and will eat anything. (I don't feed any dry foods so I don't know about that)

 

[Zionas]

Nice any ideas as to their lifespan?

 

[divewsharks]

I have one (should have gotten more at time of original purchase). Have had mine at least 18 months. Super peaceful with the other tankmates which include : royal gramma, white tail bristletooth tang, powder brown tang, candy hogfish, mandarin dragonet and others. I don't feed pellets (make my own food) and it eats it all.

 

[pomoev]

Mine also had multiple eye injuries, likely scratched against the rock. Ended up one-eyed, lived a few years after that.

 

[Zionas]

Can they potentially live 10+ years?

 

[Paul B]

Can they potentially live 10+ years?

I really can't say for sure. I stopped keeping a log book 30 years ago and I don't think I had one then.
I have had them now for a while, but I don't remember how many years they lived.

 

[piranhaman00]

Interesting on several eye injury posts. I have two and both lost at least one eye to what appeared to be injury’s

 

[Zionas]

Wonder what makes their eyes so easily injured.

 

[tobster]

I’ve got one in a biocube 32 with a firefish. The bass is mean to the firefish and usually chases him.
He eats anything I put in the tank. Pellets, frozen etc.
They are a pretty fish. Only get about 3-4 inches is what I’ve read. No idea on longevity.

 

[Zeeth]

I've got one in my 180 gallon. He's nice, but a little timid. I often see him swimming together with my blue-green chromis.

 

[Zionas]

@Zeeth How long have you had him for, and what are his tankmates? To get an idea.

 

[Zionas]

@tobster How long have you had him for and is the Firefish his only tankmate?

 

[X-37B]

I kept one in an 18" nano cube then my 45 frag system. Peaceful but jumpers for sure.
Mine jumped from the nano cube to the 45 trag tank. Could not find it for a few days then found it in the 45. It must have wanted the other system real bad, lol.
All my systems have mesh tops now.