Pairing Blue Assessors (Assessor Macneilli

[rlpardue]

So there are two at an LFS and I have a 24-hour option to buy both at an unbeatable price. I'm kind of particular about keeping my fish in pairs or harems, and I am begging anyone who's seen a pair or been able to pair this fish to please let me know what I should look for.

The LFS was kind enough to put them in a new tank together simultaneously today, and I'm going to drop by tomorrow afternoon to observe and hopefully see two fish swimming together, hopefully a big one and a little one. Perhaps the bigger one might have a large mouth (mouthbrooder) like a Banggai male would.

This would be the coolest pair I could ever possibly hope to get within my budget. Alternatively, has anyone had success pairing the yellow assessor? I assume their sexuality is fairly similar, except that the blue ones are mouthbrooders (I guess that makes them pretty different...)

My tank should be fine for it (150), the only fish that I would possibly worry about is a Lubbock's wrasse terminal phase male. He sometimes chases the Lubbock's female or the yellow wrasse female then displays his flashy nature. He leaves all the other fish alone though.

 

[Ambition]

I have three of the yellow assessors and there really isn't anything you can do to see if you have a pair as I believe they are gonochorists (have a sex when they are hatched or mature). It won't be like pairing wrasses or clowns with putting two juvies or a small one and a big one together. Your best bet is like six individuals and keep an eye out for a pair or maybe a harem (depending on how many males and females are preset) that will defend a territory or cave/crevice. Assessors really aren't that aggressive when it comes to conspecifics IME. The three I have don't bother each other in a 40B. With that said I think you should be fine in buying both. If both are male or both are female your display is big enough for each to have a territory.

 

[o2manyfish]

I've kept assesors together over the years and always found them to be good community fish. I have kept them from singles to up to 6 mixed blue and yellow.

I'm not sure why the yellows have gotten so expensive in the last few years. But they are one of the few fish on my want list.

Dave B

 

[Reef Frog]

I have 3 yellows together now in a 65 with no problems. I had 2 & added a third, at a later time, contrary to most advice, & no problem there either. Every once in a while one will dart at another at feeding time. They never make contact however & the individual darted at doesn't even seem to notice or react.

In my area the yellows seem to be dropping in price. ORA tank raised specimens are retailing at a LFS near me at about $60 each, less per for a group. They used to go for up to ~$90+ each locally & still see that price sometimes on line.

To the OP I'd say your chances with the blues are good. Hard to find. Go for it.

 

[rlpardue]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input.

I went back to the LFS and we could only find one of the blues in the tank....grr. But the guy in charge of saltwater is a good guy and said he'd source me another one at the same price, so I brought home the single blue. Gosh, they are really pretty fish, no?

Good to hear the price for yellows is dropping in Maryland. The ORA-bred price was around $60 for a long time, and it dropped to 50 briefly. But for the last year or so I've only seen wild-caught yellows from Australia for ~$90. Hopefully the price will drop back to ~50-60 and I can try to add a couple of yellows to the tank too

 

[Wolverine]

I went back to the LFS and we could only find one of the blues in the tank....grr.

That's the problem with the blue ones (which I love). Many of them can be very cryptic. I'd bet the other one is still in that tank. We would go months between sightings in our tank.

 

[rlpardue]

Yeah, you're probably right - we only found the one assessor after removing each rock slowly - he eventually dropped out of one. Hopefully the other blue one is in the tank still; I'll check later this week.

 

[MikeandNicole]

I've kept assesors together over the years and always found them to be good community fish. I have kept them from singles to up to 6 mixed blue and yellow.

I'm not sure why the yellows have gotten so expensive in the last few years. But they are one of the few fish on my want list.

Dave B

The Ora ones that were captive bred were a lot cheaper than the wild caught ones. I have not seen an Ora one in a while so the wilds are tricking back in at around 90 to 100 a pop.

We just paired our yellows Nd plan on adding some more. The two we have now swim together upside down and it is awesome. There was a tiny bit of chasing the first day but they are doing great now.

 

[rlpardue]

MikeandNicole, that's awesome! I actually ordered two yellows today from a LFS who placed a coral/fish ORA order today. I asked for a big one and a small one if possible.

Are there any other tricks involved in pairing? I'm planning on just throwing them both in there and hoping for the best, but if a divided QT tank would help I could do that.

 

[rlpardue]

Yellow Assessor Pair

Yellow Assessor Pair

So the two yellows are looking healthy, eating and hanging out with one another. One made its home underneath a rock ledge and the other made a home underneath my frag rack. Each fish will go and "visit" the other one for awhile, especially during feeding time when they're out and about. No violence noticed whatsoever. Here are a couple of admittedly poor iPhone pics.

The LFS where I got the blue assessor (who doing very well btw) told me it can get two more this week, so hopefully later I'll post some pics of the new blue/s.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Here is my pair doing their favorite thing, swimming upside down: