Basslets: Small Fish for Beginner's Home Aquariums

Basslets make a great fish for a beginner's first marine aquarium. These small fish do not need much room to maneuver, so they can be used in a small starter tank. They also have a varied diet and are able to adapt easily to eating commercial fish food instead of prey found in the wild. Here is a guide to the two most common types of basslet fish for home marine aquariums.

Basslets for beginner's home aquariums: The basics

The two most common types of basslets for home marine aquariums are the Chalk Bass and the Royal Gramma. They are both very small, usually running under three inches long when fully-grown. This makes basslets a good choice for beginners because they can live in a relatively small aquarium. Basslets are compatible with coral reefs and even enjoy having such obstacles as hiding places. However, these fish can be territorial and may not get along with other fish in your marine aquarium.

Basslets for beginner's home aquariums: Chalk Bass

The Chalk Bass lives in the western Atlantic Ocean and prefers areas with tropical reefs to swim through. In the wild, you will find these basslets traveling in a group. When adding several Chalk Bass from the same group to your aquarium, be sure to add all of them at once so they do not fight with each other over the new territory. This type of basslet is an omnivore in the wild, preferring a diet that includes both meat and plant-based food. In the home aquarium, they will usually adapt to a diet of commercial fish food, though an occasional treat of mysis shrimp will surely be appreciated.

Basslets for beginner's home aquariums: Royal Grammas

Royal Grammas, also known as fairy basslets, are saltwater fish that generally live in the central Atlantic Ocean. Fairy basslets will be found in deep waters, hiding upside down under the reef or rocks. Because they usually live in such dark conditions, Royal Grammas prefer dimmer aquarium lights than many species of fish. These basslets sport an assortment of bright colors, but will unfortunately be in hiding most of the time.

Fairy basslets are different than Chalk Bass in that they are more territorial with fish of their own kind than those of other species. You will need a larger aquarium tank if you wish to keep several Fairy basslets at once, usually over 90 gallons. However, they are generally peaceful with other types of fish. This makes the Fairy basslet a good choice as a way to mix up your fish tank and get a wider diversity of species. They have a diet similar to the Chalk Bass, being omnivores in the wild while still able to survive on commercial fish food pellets or flakes.