The biggest Chalk Bass I've ever seen - and my experience keeping him.

[shred5]

I always thought this fish was from the Carribean.

They are..


I had several for a while. I moved them into a tank when I moved and it took a long time for my custom top to show up and two jumped while waiting.

Very hardy and easy to keep fish.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Nice fish, where are they native too?

Caribbean.

Nice fish, I've kept them in the past. One of my favorite fish. Don't have any at the time, but I want at least 4 this time.

 

[Ferrell]

So how are they with pistol shrimp? Tthats the one thing that has me steering away from them.
The pistol shrimp is the only thing that survived my velvet outbreak early on in my tanks life. He’s been around since the beginning and would hate to see him eaten.
If they hate crustaceans would they bother a Sally Lightfoot Crab as well? Like to have a pair but am not sure

 

[Admann]

The one in my avatar is in my tank, about 1.5 yr old, about 3.5 in. So fat it is shaped more like a blue fin tuna than a bass. I know it's blurry but it really is that wide side to side top to bottom. Only tankmate is a yellow tang and they stay pretty close to each other. I think he/she chased my watchman out of the tank and then ate the pistol shrimp

 

[Lousybreed]

The Chalk Bass and Gramma might not get along that well as they are both basslets and similar in shape in size. I'm not sure how out of the norm it is for a Chalk Bass to get to this size, but it doesn't sound all that uncommon.

Mine get along just fine.

 

[KenO]

I once had 5 in a 45 gallon tank. The key to having multiple ones is to add them all at once. I had one in the 45 gallon and decided to add more. I read that to add more, I needed to add at least 2 if not more at the same time. I decided to purchase 4 additional ones. When the 4 new ones were added, the one that had been in the tank became aggressive towards all 4 new ones. With all the new targets to keep chasing after the original one gave up after a few a days and then decided it was easier to just hang out with the new ones. I also noticed that after a couple of days, the newly added ones also started to chase the original one. Make sure you have a lid on your tank, they will jump. I just ordered a batch of 20 from KP Aquatics in Florida. I'm going to add 10-12 to my 250 gallon, 6-8 to my 130 gallon. If I go on the lower end of the numbers, I have a 45 cube I'm upgrading to a 60 cube. The other 4 will go in there. Mine only grew to around 2.5 inches to 3 inches.

I found the first 5 that I had would breed off and on. One would make a depression (which is typical of bass) in the sand and take on more colors to attract one of the others to the nest. I never did see any fry, but the tank was well stocked, so there were too many mouths in the tank for eggs or fry to survive.

I found when I had just the one it would hide amongst the caves and come out to feed. Once I added the other 4, they would semi-school together and stay out and about the tank more. Aggression amongst the group seemed normal with the occasional chasing and they would lip lock and stare at each other and then separate and swim together.

 

[Labora]

How long do they live? I read that they only have 1 year lifespans but clearly that has already been debunked here.

Mine made a $12 meal out of my peppermint shrimp and is still very young.

 

[ca1ore]

I’ve been keeping chalks for years - had a bunch pushing 3”, but not 4 1/2”. They’re among my favorite dither fish. Have a quartet currently, between 1 1/2” and 2”.

 

[KingTideCorals]

My chalk bass is a UNIT!

I agree with the very active eater/aggressive. That in mind... the bass in basslet comes out for sure! Love this fish, and lives peacefully with a community of others of course can get harassed by the cleaner wrasse at times with his continuous picking and also the clowns will get mad whenever any gets near their long polyp toadstool.

Your chalk basslet is amazing though so cool to see a large specimen like that!

 

[BeltedCoyote]

I had no idea these guys are dither fish. I may end up adding some to the Leviathan when I finally get it set up

OP your specimen is gorgeous!

 

[KingTideCorals]

I had no idea these guys are dither fish. I may end up adding some to the Leviathan when I finally get it set up

OP your specimen is gorgeous!

GET A TRIO!!!!

Trios are so cool in them, and their mating dances within a trio is usually most likely in the home aquarium state! Also helps with dispersing aggression!

 

[BeltedCoyote]

GET A TRIO!!!!

Trios are so cool in them, and their mating dances within a trio is usually most likely in the home aquarium state! Also helps with dispersing aggression!

welp. Trio added to the list LOL

 

[KenO]

Ok here you go...I have 4 in my 60 cube and 4 in my 130. This is the group in my 60 cube.

 

[KingTideCorals]

welp. Trio added to the list LOL

Muhahahah YES!

 

[Nick Steele]

Are there different species within the aquarium industry?

I’ve always seen lifespan of 1-2 years even in most scientific papers and such.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Wait....chalk bass change to an even awesomer color once they mature? Or am I thinking of a different chalk bass? Because the ones on liveAquaria look nothing like Bruce!

....I may have to rethink breeding rack ideas... @ReeferBlaine , are the mating dances vertical or horizontal? How does the spawning work (pelagic, or demersal layers?)

 

[KenO]

Wait....chalk bass change to an even awesomer color once they mature? Or am I thinking of a different chalk bass? Because the ones on liveAquaria look nothing like Bruce!

....I may have to rethink breeding rack ideas... @ReeferBlaine , are the mating dances vertical or horizontal? How does the spawning work (pelagic, or demersal layers?)

Read my post #26 on how my chalk bass would breed. As a side note ORA now has tank bred chalk bass.

 

[Acros]

Beautiful fish and suitable for my 29g. How well do they get along with wrasses? I have space to add only 1.

 

[KenO]

Beautiful fish and suitable for my 29g. How well do they get along with wrasses? I have space to add only 1.

In my 60 cube I have 4 CB and 1 six line. In my 130 I have 4 CB, fairy wrasse and a melanurus wrasse. No issues in either tank. I also have 2 royal grammas in the 130 and no issues.

 

[Acros]

Looks like I am getting one. They look so pretty.

Do they usually do better in groups? Not that I can get more than one. Just curious.