All fish / Plesiopidae

Yellow Devilfish

Assessor flavissimus

Also known as yellow assessor, golden assessor, yellow devil, yellow comet, assessor yellow, キイロタナバタメギ, 黄天使, 黄色丽鮗

A small, bright yellow reef fish with long dorsal and anal fins and a forked tail, often seen hanging upside down under ledges. It is hardy, reef safe and peaceful, which makes it a popular choice for nano and community reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Singly, in pairs or in small groups in larger tanks

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and small frozen or pellet foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, northeastern Australia

Breeding

Males brood the egg mass in their mouths for about a week before the larvae are released. It has been spawned in home aquariums, but rearing the planktonic larvae is difficult.

Good to know

Provide caves and overhangs as it is shy at first; avoid housing with large predators or aggressive dottybacks. Similar to the blue Assessor macneilli, which needs the same care.