Liopropoma eukrines

(Starck & Courtenay, 1962)

Wrasse Basslet

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: North Carolina to Florida Keys.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits crevices and areas under ledges in coral reefs and is found at depths between 100 – 500 feet (30 – 150 m) where it feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade, having a tan body with a wide horizontal black ban edged in yellow.

Best maintained in a dimly lit fish-only aquarium having many rocky hiding places/crevices to investigate or take shelter, as most in this family are quite shy/secretive. May hide for several days upon entering the aquarium, yet will become bolder when hungry and then make an appearance, especially at feeding time. However, may never become a more outgoing/social tankmate, i.e., swimming in the open with other tankmates.

Can also be maintained in a reef aquarium, however, will constantly seek the darkest areas of the aquarium, offering few viewing opportunities for its owner and becoming difficult to feed.

As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of their diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched finely chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed every other day, or about three times per week in well-established aquariums. In newly established aquariums, feed once every day.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Serranidae

Subfamily: Liopropomatinae

Genus: Liopropoma

FYI: Not safe with small ornamental crustaceans.

Most often collected at depths below 100 feet (30 m), and may be seen more often if maintained in a dimly lit tank.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution/will eat small crustaceans

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 50+ gallons

Temperature Range: 68 - 79°F (20 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5