Chalk Basslet (Serranus tortugarum)
Max Size: 3 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
The Chalk Bass is a small and colorful fish from the Caribbean that makes a great choice for beginner aquarists. These fish have an orange body with a purple mid-section and striking electric blue vertical bands. They do well in a 30-gallon aquarium with plenty of live rock for hiding. Chalk Bass are not aggressive towards other fish and can be kept in multiples as long as they are added at the same time. They are also reef-safe and won't pick at corals or sessile invertebrates. However, larger specimens may attack small shrimps from the Periclimenes genus.
The Chalk Bass is an extremely hardy fish and will thrive on a diet consisting of a variety of chopped meaty items, vitamin-enriched brine and mysis shrimp, and flake foods.