Basslets

[WuHT]

How often do basslets "venture" out in a mid-large tank (150 gallon)? In particular i've got my eye on the rubre swissguard basslet (like that over the swalesi)

I have about 3 decent sized fish (foxface, angel, trigger from 6" to 4.5") and the rest of the tank consists of a pair of breeding occ clowns, 1 azure damsel, 1 melanurus wrasse, 1 pakistani butterfly) 1 orchid dotty back, 1 midas blenny.

Unforunately, my experience with the orchid dottyback (it was one of the last fish to be put in) was that he was rather reclusive, and definately scared of every other larger fish (save the damsel which he'll actually confront).

So basically i don't want to acquire a fish that i'll only get a glimpse at once in a while (ie i kinda regret getting a blood shrimp, as they barely come out).

Any thoughts ?

 

[michael_cb_125]

No Basslet will ever venture out in you tank with a 6" and 4.5" triggerfish. Basslets are flighty by nature, stick one in a small box with a big predator, and you only worsen the situation.

That said, a happy basslet will stay out quite a bit, and will even learn to feed from your fingers. (my L. carmabi does this).

~Michael

 

[WuHT]

No Basslet will ever venture out in you tank with a 6" and 4.5" triggerfish. Basslets are flighty by nature, stick one in a small box with a big predator, and you only worsen the situation.

That said, a happy basslet will stay out quite a bit, and will even learn to feed from your fingers. (my L. carmabi does this).

~Michael

Well it's a timid blue throat triggerfish (but to a smallerfish all triggers are trouble).

Oddly enough the fish that scares all my smaller fish is the wimpiest yet biggest fish in the tank , my cowardly 6" foxface.

 

[flameangel88]

I've a pair in a 120 with mostly small fishes--the largest being a 4.5" Pink Margin and the bully being the 3" Coral Beauty. The pair swim out with the other fishes but I've about 150 lbs of rocks in there so that helps out quite a bit.

This vid is from 3 weeks ago
http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Video/?action=view&current=101_0019.mp4

 

[WuHT]

nice.. but i can't help but wonder it's because you have multiple basslets that they tend to less reclusive.

 

[flameangel88]

Not sure, but I think it's more due to the large amount of rocks. I started out with 3 and the largest and smallest was chasing the medium one then the two pair off. The pair is a little more shy then the pair of Rhomboid but they do swim around a lot.

 

[Makaveli2010]

Bassletts are always hiding from other bigger fishes...

 

[huskerreef]

I also have the Carmabi, a very beautiful fish. He's out quite a bit but is housed with only a couple small wrasses in a 90 so theres not much to intimidate. I had swissgard basslet a few years back in my 240 with several bigger tangs and you never saw it and it was always in hiding eventually dying.

 

[michael_cb_125]

If these fish are not kept with boisterous tank mates they can become very outgoing.
As I stated earlier, my L. carmabi will eat from my hand and rarely if ever hides.

~Michael

 

[acck]

Michael, do u have any recent pics of your carmabi?

 

[steelersfan]

I have the Cave Basslet and the Candy Basslet together with a Chevron Tang. The Basslets are often visible, but they will stay around the rocks.

 

[acck]

Thanks bro, always enjoyed pictures from this tank.Do u intend to get more of these fishes? pls post full tank shots