All fish / Serranidae

Chalk Bass

Serranus tortugarum

Also known as chalk basslet, tortugas bass, chalk sea bass, yes

A small, slender sea bass coloured orange-brown with pale blue to violet bars along the sides. It is hardy, reef safe with corals and unusually tolerant of its own kind for a serranid, so it suits community reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Can be kept singly or in a group of 3 or more in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis and brine shrimp, chopped seafood, small pellets and flakes

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Central Atlantic: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean

Breeding

It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, so any two adults can form a pair and spawn, taking turns at each sex role. Eggs and larvae are pelagic, and rearing them in captivity is difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

It may eat very small shrimps and tiny fish, so avoid housing it with very small tankmates. Keep a tight lid as it can jump.