Assessor Basslets / Randall's Assessor?

ScubaFish802 · Oct 16, 2020

Thoughts, advice, input on Assessor Basslets? I've seen quite a few really nice looking ones on Divers Den recently and am thinking of pulling the trigger.

I'm looking for people's opinions who have kept one before as there seems to be a lack of information about them. From my overall understanding they are "easy going and peaceful". Current fish are two Osc. Clowns, Algae Blenny, and Purple Firefish.

Would you recommend or advise against?

I have also noticed most or all of them appear to have "frayed" tail fins, is this just a normal trait of assessors?

Spare time · Oct 16, 2020

We have some at my work. They are funny as they swim sideways and upsidedown. They don't seem to aggress with other fish in the store tanks.

ScubaFish802 · Oct 16, 2020

Spare time said:
We have some at my work. They are funny as they swim sideways and upsidedown. They don't seem to aggress with other fish in the store tanks.

Their coloration and the upside down swimming were the two features that stood out to me. Overall they seem to be an uncommon fish all around. I also see they seem to do well with other assessors allegedly..

Thanks for the info!

argiBK · Oct 16, 2020

Very peaceful, cryptic and hardy fish (at least the ORAs are), but you may risk rarely/never seeing them. I thought I had lost mine last year, was observing feeding time last week and saw mine dart out to grab a piece of food!

I think they would be pretty cool in a small colony (maybe with some Yellow Assessors in there too), especially if you have overhangs or bridges that let them swim upside down.

ThRoewer · Oct 16, 2020

They get easily lost in a larger community tank, especially if you have lots of wild or hectic fish in there or some that bully them. They would be great for a smaller NPS tank with low lights and overhangs. Ideal tank mates would be Janssi pipefish, Marine Bettas, possibly other Assessors, though I have seen them fight with each other.

I had a pair of Yellow Assessors I only saw during feedings and a mixed pair I only found after everything in the tank died in a power outage. My current Randalls are mostly out during the morning before the lights come on. One lives in a shell near the front so I see him more often than the one that has taken up residence in the rocks.