Swalesi Basslet? Yes/No?

[Spyndera99]

Hello Reefing Community!

I am (slightly) in love with the Swalesi Basslet (Liopropoma swalesi).
I've heard that they are really great fish, but can be a little shy. Does anyone have any experience, or information that they can share?

Thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

I haven't owned one (yet), but if you have a line on a good deal for one you should get it.

 

[Spyndera99]

$90. Worth it or not?

 

[Chrisv.]

$90. Worth it or not?

Heck yeah! They are a cool fish. Just be prepared for them to be a little shy. They need good hiding places to really settle in. It's the sort of fish you see every now and again and enjoy for a moment. Cryptic.

 

[Spyndera99]

Yeah, I have hiding places in my tank. How often do you think I'll see it? Just trying to get a sense for it

 

[michael_cb_125]

Have kept almost all of the Liopropoma species. These guys are pretty cryptic. That said, in a passive reef they can become quite bold. But it will never be a fish swimming mid water column. My candy basslets eventually got to where the would eat from a stick, but were cruising caves most of the time.

~Michael

 

[Chrisv.]

Yeah, I have hiding places in my tank. How often do you think I'll see it? Just trying to get a sense for it

Really depends on how big your tank ss and what kinds of tank mates you have. Also the individual personality of the fish. Also how you feed. So it really is tough to say. They are not yellow tangs, that's for sure.

 

[lion king]

Yes very cool fish, quite spectacular when in a healthy tank and happy. Can be shy but as long as there is no one bullying, you will see enough of them to thoroughly enjoy. Their colors can be very vibrant when happy, some call them the poor man's candy basslet, so $90 is fine.

 

[Spyndera99]

All right. I have two clowns. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be an issue, because they stick to a Hammer coral that they host, and my "hiding spots" are on the complete other side of the tank. Would clownfish be a problem?

 

[Chrisv.]

All right. I have two clowns. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be an issue, because they stick to a Hammer coral that they host, and my "hiding spots" are on the complete other side of the tank. Would clownfish be a problem?

How big is the tank?

 

[Spyndera99]

It's a 30g nuvo AIO. Very soon upgrading to a 60.

 

[Spyndera99]

Also, I plan on stocking some anthias later on in my 60/70 (don't know yet). Would they be a problem to this little guy?

 

[Chrisv.]

It's a 30g nuvo AIO. Very soon upgrading to a 60.

It would probably be fine if you have lots of nooks and crannies. This is probably not the fish for a "nsa" aquascape.

 

[Chrisv.]

Also, I plan on stocking some anthias later on in my 60/70 (don't know yet). Would they be a problem to this little guy?

I doubt the anthias would give him a problem, but anthias in a 60-70 gallon tank are tricky on their own. They really benefit from nearly constant feeding, which is tricky in a smaller tank. Feeding them "enough" can be a nutrient disaster for everything else.

 

[Spyndera99]

Got it. I'll see how it goes. I also have a lot of filtration in the tank, so I might try. I don't know though

 

[Spyndera99]

Thanks for the help!

 

[Fishf00d]

Mine is a great fish. Have had it in a 65 gal tank for over a year now. Its usually hiding and I see it when I feed the tank. Mine eats shrimp and all 6 peppermints I put in for aiptasia were gone in a week. It was fun watching him hunt them down. Overall a great fish. Just wish I'd see it more often.

 

[Spyndera99]

So, from what I'm hearing, you don't see it often? @Fishf00d

 

[Fishf00d]

So, from what I'm hearing, you don't see it often? @Fishf00d

I do not, but I just got a new tank and will hopefully see it more as its almost a peninsula and I'll have more open rockwork and a lot more fish. Crossing my fingers. Right now I only see glimpses of it unless I feed and then it darts out for food, or in the case of the shrimp it was hunting them down out in the open.

 

[Spyndera99]

I'll probably get one then. Thanks!