Has anyone kept a Flathead Perch (Rainfordia opercularis)?

[Zionas]

Either wild-caught or a Biota CB one (much cheaper actually). If you have or currently keep one, what’s it like?

What does it eat and any predatory behavior / risk towards smaller fish?

What about mixing it with other Basslets?

How shy is it compared to the average Gramma or Liopropoma (they’re a relative of the latter).

 

[mcarroll]

Wonder if you found any old threads or an entry for them in any fish books?

 

[Zionas]

There’s almost no info about this Basslet online or in any academic sources. The few reports I found of this fish in captivity come from Japanese sources and a few Reef Builders articles. I believe there’s a guy on here that has a pair of them along with a collection of other rare stuff but he hasn’t posted in a while. I know maybe 3-4 people total that have kept one.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

There’s almost no info about this Basslet online or in any academic sources. The few reports I found of this fish in captivity come from Japanese sources and a few Reef Builders articles. I believe there’s a guy on here that has a pair of them along with a collection of other rare stuff but he hasn’t posted in a while. I know maybe 3-4 people total that have kept one.

In the US, these are being bred by Todd Gardner. I worked with him years ago, he helped me raise some boarfish, Capros aper.

You've seen his article?

https://reefs.com/magazine/flathead-perch/