I bought a new fish and can't identify it.  4/5/09 Hello, I went to the local salt water store today and bought a new fish. The guy at the store didn't have any idea what kind of fish it was. I was hoping you could help me out. <Mmm, from the shape of the eye, the fins and their placement, fusiform body... appears to be a Bass, a Serranid... My best guess is Serranus baldwini. See here: http://wetwebmedia.com/serranus.htm And fishbase.org, the Net... Bob Fenner>

Re: I bought a new fish and can't identify it. 04/05/09 Thank you very much for the information. I looked up the pictures and the body shape and fins and head are the same but the markings are different on his body. I think I may have over paid for him since the guy at the LFS couldn't positively identify him. I appreciate your help! I bought your book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" and I refer to it often. Thanks again. Chris From Buffalo NY <Ahh, please do send another image as this fish grows a bit. We'll figure it out. BobF>

Chalk bass, sel. stkg.

Mixing Basslet Species  - 1/6/06
I am considering adding Basslets to my current set-up.  My aquarium is a 75 gallon reef with 80lbs of live rock, live sand and numerous blue-legged hermits and algae-eating snails.  The only fish are a Royal Gramma, a Velvet Damsel, a Maroon Clown, and a Spotted Mandarin.  I also have several mushroom corals.  The set-up has been running for 9 months and all is well.  I am considering adding a group of Basslets; 2 Chalk Basslets and 1 Orange-back Basslet.  I actually have a few questions:
Would 3 new fish result in overcrowding? <Shouldn't> I assume it may be safer to add a group,<Yes> as the current fish are pretty aggressive to newcomers-I tried adding 2 green chromis recently which were treated pretty roughly until I removed them.  As far as compatibility goes can I mix the Chalk Basslets with the Orange-back or should I stick with just 1 species--I like them both. <As long as that Velvet Damsel is in the tank, there is always going to be some aggression toward newcomers.> Are either species compatible with the Royal Gramma?
Will the Basslets be too aggressive for the Mandarin? <Basslets seem to get along OK with others in the family.  Shouldn't bother the Mandarin but again, with that damsel?????>
Thank You! <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>

Fish Jumped (6/13/05)
Hi there!! Great site! So far, your help has been more than appreciated! <Glad to be a part of this helpful venture. Steve Allen with you tonight.> There is my question. I had a Chalk Basslet, very active fish, great health, lots of personality and never afraid, no matter what happens! A few days ago, I left the glass cover opened for a few hours (my mistake, I know!) and the Chalk jumped out... <Sorry to hear. I've found a couple of missing fish dried up behind my tank months later myself.> I was wondering what could have made him jump out?? <Impossible to say. Spooked by something. Just happened to jump. Many possibilities.> Water quality is good, ammonia/nitrites: 0, nitrates: ranging from 10 to 20 ppm (little high...), sg: 1.025, temp.: +/-78F, water changes: every week, 5-7%... other fishes: ocellaris clown, royal Gramma (really peaceful, even with the chalk), yellowhead jawfish, 2 cleaner shrimps, 1 coral banded shrimp, lots of small inverts, soft and LPS corals... <All sounds fine.> I heard (or read, can't remember) that chalks don't jump out... <Any fish can jump. There is no such thing as a fish that "never" jumps, though some are certainly much more prone to do so than others.> Any idea of the reasons why he "committed suicide"?? <Again, absolutely no way to know. I'd say that anyone who has an open-top tank will eventually lose a fish.> Thank you very much!! If you need more details about my aquarium, please kept me know! Thanks!!
Ivan <Consider using a piece of that plastic egg-crate stuff from Home Depot to keep fish in while allowing good ventilation and access for feeding.>

- Chalk Bass Compatibility -
Hi there! I've been looking through your FAQs and info, and as far as I can understand, chalk basses are from the same family as royal grammas... 
<Yes, both basses [Serranidae] although in different genera.> <<Mmm, actually Grammas are in a separate family, Grammatidae... but these families are not very distally related. RMF>>
I have a well-established 32 gal reef tank with a chalk bass, green Chromis, ocellaris clown, firefish and a few inverts (shrimp, hermit, etc...) They are all really peaceful and seem to do greatly together. I also have LPS and soft corals... My question is, will it be OK if I put a Royal Gramma with these guys? 
<I'd recommend against it only because your tank is full, livestock wise... the fish would likely get along given more space but I think this will put your tank over the edge both socially and biologically.> Will there be any territoriality/species problems with my bass? (I love this guy!! so bright and beautiful colors, and lots of personality ;) Thanks a lot!!!  Ivan
<Cheers, J -- > 

- Chalk Bass in Groups? -
Dearest Crew:
I am looking into the Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum) for my 55 gallon.
My current setup is as follows:
1-False Percula Clown - (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1-Orchid Dottyback - (Pseudochromis fridmani)
1-Blenny (Salarias fasciatus or S. ceramensis)
4-mushrooms on 2 rocks
1-small polyp rock
3-small leathers
According to a marine fishes book I have, this fish is an excellent choice for the peaceful tank, and are best kept in groups.  Now, my questions:
First, do you believe this fish is best kept in groups? <Will do well either way.>
Second, is three (3) considered a group? <Sure.>
Third, can I fit three in my setup? <Three might be a crowd.>
Fourth, if not, would one alone fare okay? <I think so... one would probably be better in your setup.>
Thanks, Rich
<Cheers, J -- >

The Mysterious Chalk Bass
Hi. I'm a great fan of your site but after leafing through it for quite some time I noticed that there wasn't much written about the chalk Basslet. I've read that it can be kept in very small aquariums and I'm curious to know whether it would be compatible in my 25g fish/invert tank.
<Would be better, more suitably placed in something larger, I'd say a forty gallon minimum>
I've already got a pair of a. perculas, a neon goby and some small hermits/snails. I plan to add the Basslet and two skunk cleaner shrimp. Could everyone get along?
<The shrimp might be consumed during a molting incident by the bass>
Also, the pictures I have seen of this fish vary greatly...is the bright blue color more common or the pale pink with light blue stripes? I'd love to learn more about this fish, esp. from the experts. Many many thanks.
<This and other Serranus are quite variable in color... and changeable depending on circumstances (psychological/social as well as water quality, nutrition...), best to pick out one that is initially about what you like and "keep it happy". Bob Fenner>

To Hamlet or Basslet, That is the Question
<Hi, MikeD here>
I am very interested in these 2 fish. <Very nice animals>  The reason being is I love the predatory natured fish, like groupers and the like.  I crossed groupers off the list because I have a 75g tank, and they get too large for that, and I have some smaller fish they'd probably eat. <Very wise choice based on logical reasoning.  Well done!  I am wondering what your thoughts on the Indigo Hamlet and Tobacco Basslet <Two of my favorite "mini-groupers> are, in concerns to the compatibility with the fish I currently have.  Right now I have a pair of ocellaris clownfish, the smaller of the two being about 2", the larger being about 3".  I also have a yellow watchman goby, and a coral beauty angel, who is approximately 3.5".  Will any of my existing fish be at high risk of being eaten if I add the hamlet or tobacco bass, or both??<No problem with adding either OR both fish if you so desire. I have a pair of Hamlets in my 125 gal. small predator tank, a black and an Indigo>  I read that they eat small fish, but just how small are we talking?<We're taking baby guppy sized up through about 1" maximum for prey fishes.>  I had a marine betta in the past who never even looked at any of those fish as food.<Another of my favorites, although far more secretive than most people realize>  I thank you in advance.
<Good luck and let us know what you decide and how they do?>
Joe

Eastern Atlantic Bass papers
Please Sir I want any reprints or papers about Serranus hepatus
S.scriba
S.cabrilla
<Mmm, only what is posted on www.WetWebMedia.com
Bob Fenner>

Re: Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum)
WWM Crew,
<Howdy Bob... it's, uhh, Bob>
I'm thinking about purchasing a Chalk Bass but I've not been able to find a lot of useful information on their fit in aquariums.  Michaels give it a 5 for aquarium suitability and for the most part it looks like a hardy species.  Your site's FAQ's provide little info other than it is a favorite of some.  I'm guessing that it is not a widely held fish.  How would this fish do in a  "peaceful" FO 75g tank?
<A very good choice>
It's mates would be some type of Dwarf Angel (probably a Flame or a Coral Beauty), 3 Bar Gobies, a Regal Tang, a pair of Percula Clowns, a Six-line Wrasse, 2 small Pajama Cardinals and a Bartlett's Anthias.
Bob Jones
<Serranus spp. are favorites of mainly U.S. east coast markets due to their proximity to the tropical West Atlantic. I agree with your searching thus far re their placement, usefulness. Shy like many small basses, but not "mean". Bob Fenner>

Wrasse question
Hi Bob, great site! (Just discovered it today)
<Ah, good... spread the word>
My LFS has a wrasse that I don't see listed on your site - a Tobacco
Wrasse.
<Hmm, a new common name to me... and FishBase... are you sure you don't mean a Tobacco Bass, aka Tobaccofish? (Serranus tabacarius?)... this is pictured on the WWM site... and is "relatively" reef safe...>
Is this (as the LFS claims) a reef-safe fish? Which species is he in?
<Family? Serranidae, the true Basses, Groupers>
What about mature size in a 70 gallon tank 1/4 full of live rock? 
<Perhaps four inches, maybe five>
Any other advice about a go/no-go on this wrasse? If it matters, the other fish in the tank are a Hippo Tang, a Royal Gramma, a Foxface, and an unknown (pinkish, fairly docile, mature) Damsel. Inverts are an orange
bristle star (he likes to be hand fed fresh shrimp), pagoda, trumpet,
branching hammer corals, and various polyps and mushrooms. Thanks! Matt
<Should get along with all. Take a look again at the image of this fish on the WWM site... is this the fish? Bob Fenner>

Re: wrasse question
Bob, you were much closer than the LFS on the identity of the "wrasse"!
It looks exactly like the WWM picture of Serranus annularis, or Orangeback Bass. Not a tabacarius. So... reef safe? Ok with Hippo tang, Foxface, etc? Good fish?
Thanks again, Matt
<A very good fish, actually entire genus... and "reef safe" as long as you don't have small crustaceans, fishes that can fit in their mouths... at least for Basses, they stay/are small. Bob Fenner>>