Reef Fish Guide designation and why

Take it home
Dwarf seabasses have high survivability and they are some of the most hardy and disease-resistant choices for aquarists. Some species are very beautiful, and they spend most of their time perching near the bottom of the tank or swimming high in the water column. Because they have a quick reproductive cycle, Dwarf seabasses are a sustainable aquarium choice for the home aquarium.

Distribution
Tropical Western Atlantic: Bermuda and southern Florida, USA to northern South America; throughout the Caribbean, including Antilles

Maximum Size
They range from 2.8 inches to 7.1 inches (7cm - 18cm).

Care Requirements
Dwarf seabasses prefer a tank of at least 30 gallons with plenty of places where they can hide, perch, and swim; they also like darker tanks with limited lighting but generally do well in most types of tanks. They are suitable for deep or shallow water reef tanks and it is best to house them with other moderately aggressive tankmates.

Food: Dwarf seabasses eat mostly meaty foods, including marine fish and crustacean flesh, mysid shrimp, and frozen foods. Feed at least once per day.

Compatibility: Most of these seabass species are non-predatory but they can be mildly aggressive. They should not be kept with passive fishes or small species like neon gobies. If two seabass of the same species are kept together in a tank, they should be monitored. Choose two that are smaller and be prepared to remove them if they start to fight. Unless they swim close together or ignore each other, S. tigrinus should be housed singly in order to avoid major aggression. All seabass may eat ornamental crustaceans and smaller fish. Be careful not to house a larger species like S. tabacarius with small, shy fish.