Multiple assessors?

[lcs]

I'm continually rethinking my stock list for my new 125. I know I want a yellow assessor, would they do well in a group? I haven't finalized anything yet accept I'm going for small, peaceful, and active for this tank. A single ocellaris clown and melanurus wrasse will be moving over.

 

[Reef Frog]

A small group is fine - they almost never squabble but every once in a while they will dart at each other. Having plenty of rockwork for refuge is key and it's best but not mandatory to add them as a group.

I believe they are found I small groups in the wild.

 

[fishy.22]

That sounds cool, have you thought about mixing them?
Anyone with experience keeping royal grammas with assessors? I too would like to keep at least one RG and a yellow assessor.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have kept a Royal Gramma with a Yellow Assessor and they were just fine with each other. I would add the gramma after the assessor though.

 

[lcs]

I thought I had read somewhere about them being in smalls groups in the wild as well, that's what made me think of it, but I wanted to be sure it would be OK in my size tank.

Thanks! Now I just need to be able to find more than one. What do you think- three to four?

 

[MikeandNicole]

We have a group of 7 gold assesors and 3 of the randalli. They are some of our favorites. Buy tank raised.

 

[Reef Frog]

I have kept a Royal Gramma with a Yellow Assessor and they were just fine with each other. I would add the gramma after the assessor though.

Agree. No problems here either with a RG but mine is quite small. You should be fine as long as the tank is large enough for the fish to separate and establish territory.

 

[Reef Frog]

Assessors can be docile. I have a bonded pair of Purple Firefish & the dominant one will dart at the assessors sometimes, usually during feeding time. No big deal, no one gets hurt but they will scare the assessors back into the rock work if they feel like it. The assessors used to be our front in the open more often before I added the Firefish, but now they're a little more cautious. A few braver ones come out now more frequently now and randomly, but still keep a wary eye on the firefish. I have a peaceful tank, but I imagine things like dortybacks & most damsels could make life miserable for assessors.

 

[lcs]

Interesting you say that about the firefish. I was planning on one for the 125; could your's be more aggressive because it's part of a pair?

 

[snorvich]

If the firefish are bonded and mating, it is possible that during "that time" they will be more aggressive, but normally they are docile except to other firefish.

 

[Reef Frog]

If the firefish are bonded and mating, it is possible that during "that time" they will be more aggressive, but normally they are docile except to other firefish.

That's interesting. In all the fish books firefish seem to be portrayed as the most non-aggressive of fish but one in my pair is quite bossy. I figured the pair had something to do with it and he's just showing off for his girlfriend.

They are definitely a pair as they even "kiss" sometimes & swim together in a spiral motion. But do they ever lay eggs that hatch in the display tank? I've always wondered if the ones we see in the LFS are typically wild caught or tank raised?

 

[lcs]

We have a dissenting opinion! I ran my potential stocking list by snorvich today and he was recommending against a group of assessors as they wouldn't get along.

Anyone else have first hand experience with a group in a tank about this size (125)?

 

[snorvich]

We have a dissenting opinion! I ran my potential stocking list by snorvich today and he was recommending against a group of assessors as they wouldn't get along.

Anyone else have first hand experience with a group in a tank about this size (125)?

And that is because multiple males will not get along. In long tanks, it is less of an issue, however. In a 125 a male and multiple females will work, but not multiple males. I personally do not know how to reliably sex them.

 

[snorvich]

However, here is a thread about pairing assessors. I know tank size makes things easier as assessors have small territories. Note, however, that live aquaria recommends against multiple males.

 

[lcs]

That's what I was worried about, ending up with more than one male. I will check out that thread as well as more research on the species' sexual natural history to see if it's reasonably doable.

Thanks snorvich!!

 

[MikeandNicole]

Iirc it was only the macnelli assessors that they do not do well in groups and you have to be careful with. We started with a pair that we did not sex at all and then added six more that we got from Ora via our lfs. We then started with two Randall's from Ora via the same lfs and just added another I ordered with the mimic blenny. No aggression at all and even the three Randall's swim together pretty often. Mathematically is it possible we have all females or one male? Yes. But I doubt we do.

With all that being said, are they in a tight ball all the time? No. You can kind of see groups forming bu there is no aggression at all between the groups. Our tank is 5 feet long for reference but I don't think that is as big if a deal.