Yellow Assessor

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Central Pacific, mainly within the Great Barrier Reef. Found in dark crevices, under ledges, and inside caves on coral reefs at depths of 5 to 20 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Plesiopidae. Slender body with large, rounded fins. Reaches a maximum size of 7 cm. Swims upside-down under ledges.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and reclusive. Best kept in small groups or pairs. Shows no aggression toward other fish.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body is entirely bright golden-yellow. Fin margins may feature thin reddish-orange outlines. Males tend to be slightly larger than females.

Aquarium Setup: Minimum tank size of 100 liters. Rockwork must include plenty of caves, arches, and overhangs to simulate deep reef crevices. Prefers subdued lighting.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Feeds on zooplankton. Provide frozen mysis, enriched artemia, cyclops, and fine dry pellets. Feed 2-3 times daily.

Water Quality: High water quality and stability. Maintain temperature at 22-27°C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity at SG 1.020-1.025.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef-safe. Suitable for community reef aquariums. Avoid aggressive or fast-feeding tankmates like dottybacks.

Aquarium Breeding: Paternal mouthbrooder. The male carries the egg mass in his mouth, protecting them from predators until hatching.

Risks and Diseases: High jumping risk. Make sure the tank is covered. Ensure it gets enough food in tanks with fast-swimming species.