Yellow Assessor Vs Swissguard Baslett

[OodleyBoodely]

I absolutely love these fish, especially the yellow assessors. What is the feasability of keeping both species together in a 37g? My tank will not be ready for fish for some time yet, but, I'm also looking at keeping either a group of 5 red-spot or orange-lined cardinals, so, any possible aggressive issues toward small passive fish with either basslett specie?

 

[snorvich]

Yellow assessors (beautiful) are peaceful and semi cryptic. Swissguard Basslets are semi aggressive. In any case 7 fish in that sized tank is going a bit overboard.

 

[pulpol]

???

 

[cwoods8]

And the Winner is..........j/k

i've done this exact combo and it worked in a 40 cube....

As of the moment I have an ORA assessor with a L.Carmabi

Totally for aqua-cultured fish but if you ask me, the wild assessors are much more vibrant.

 

[snorvich]

Totally for aqua-cultured fish but if you ask me, the wild assessors are much more vibrant.

May I ask in what way?

 

[cwoods8]

colorwise.......the ORA's seem to be on the dullish yellow side, an almost mustard color.
While the Ausi's are closer to a bright yellow.....equal to, but not exactly as yellow as a yellow tang. I can't speak for blue assessors though.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks! I was considering the yellow, I have the blue.

 

[velvetelvis]

Wouldn't diet take care of the color issue? My threadfin cardinals have colored up beautifully since I started feeding them cyclopeez regularly.

 

[cwoods8]

It's just the way they come....and i can't say why
i've had both and can say that tank-bred cannot compare to wild-caught colorwise....
as far as temperment and behavior.....they are the same.

BTW i feed p.e. mysis, shrimp, etc. and the color remains the same....mustard

Steve....nothing like a "Shoal" of blue and yellows!

 

[snorvich]

Steve....nothing like a "Shoal" of blue and yellows!

Well, my current project is a group of gramma loretto, I just have not decided how many and whether there needs to be a size difference. Sorry this does not really pertain to the original thread because it would be a MUCH larger tank.

 

[velvetelvis]

cwoods8, what are yellow assessors like in temperament and behavior? I've thought of getting one. They are beautiful fish.

 

[cwoods8]

As far as temperament and behavior.......about as ideal as an community fish that you can get. With that being said, they are initially secretive and will hide for quite some time when first introduced, especially in a tank with fish that share the same niche. I once had a blue and introduced him in my display and did not see him for about 2-3 months.....i completely forgot about him...until one day he came out of nowhere to feed.
yellows seem to be more bold than blues.

the coolest thing about these guys are their swimming behavior......sideways, upsidedown, upright, you name it. Just be sure to give the little guy a ledge, or even better a cavelike structure to hang out around.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions/thoughts on these.

CWoods, glad this same combo worked well for you in your 40! My tank is only 3 gallons smaller so I don't think there will be an appreciable difference in stocking levels.

I don't know yet if I will be able to get either fish as both are really out of my price range, but, if it comes down to one or the other, I would likely go with the assessor. As for my stocking level, it is still in the planning stage, yet. I would love a group of the red-spots or the orange-lined cardinals and one or two other fish, but, as this is just a preliminary research, everything can (and likely will!) change before I actually get water in my tank, lol!

 

[velvetelvis]

If it makes any difference, the captive-bred ORA assessors that I've seen offered online are considerably less expensive than wild-caught--around $50, as opposed to $100-$120.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

where are you seeing them? I've checked a number of sites but they never specified captive bred.

 

[velvetelvis]

I can't mention the store by name b/c they're not a sponsor, but google "ORA yellow assessor" (w/out quotation marks) and they'll be the first hit.

Diver's Den also has them in every so often. You can sign up for their daily email alerts (M-F) to see what might be posted to the site later in the day.

 

[el aguila]

I have two local LFS selling the ORA yellows for $20 each. I would get one, but they are not vibrant yellow more mustard. Waiting to see is anyone can get them to color up better after a decent diet.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

Thanks! I checked that site...good price on them too.

El Aquila, at $20 ea. I would have come home $40 less cash, lol! Even mustard colored!

 

[jestersix]

I love my Yellow - an ORA baby but developing great color, agreed it is not the same yellow as the wild caught. Hangs upside down under a cave in the back corner of my tank. I just wish the LFS had more than one when I bought mine. Shy at first but getting pretty friendly and eats like a pig!

 

[A. Grandis]

I just put a yellow assessor a week ago in my tank and it's not coming out of the rocks. I have a Swissguard on quarantine. This thread just came to confirm what I needed to know. I believe they'll be ok together. Other fishes are 2 pajama cardinals, 1 purple firefish, 1 yellow watchman goby and a baby Sailfing tang. Tank is a 75gal.

Grandis.