All fish / Serranidae

Barred Hamlet

Hypoplectrus puella

Also known as barred hamlet, hamlet, banded hamlet, barred sea bass

A small, deep-bodied reef sea bass with a pale yellowish body crossed by broad brown bars and fine blue lines on the head. It is kept for its striking pattern, hardy nature and interesting behaviour as it hunts slowly around rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, or as a mated pair in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped shrimp and fish, quality frozen meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Central Atlantic: Florida, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean

Breeding

Hamlets are simultaneous hermaphrodites, with each fish of a pair taking turns to release eggs and sperm at dusk. Spawning has occasionally been seen in large aquariums, but raising the tiny pelagic larvae is very difficult.

Good to know

It will eat small fish and ornamental shrimps, so it is not fully reef safe, and it can quarrel with other hamlets. It is easily confused with other Hypoplectrus species that can hybridise with it.