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Candy Basslet
Basslet

Candy Basslet

Liopropoma carmabi

A tiny, jaw-droppingly coloured deep-reef gem — candy-striped in red-orange and gold — and one of the most sought-after (and expensive) small fish in the hobby. It is peaceful and coral-safe but intensely secretive, seldom straying far from its home ledge, so it needs plenty of rockwork, some shaded caves and an established, settled tank to feel confident. Its mouth is small, so only the tiniest shrimp are ever at risk. Undemanding to feed once acclimated, but a serious investment that deserves a mature, low-stress reef.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
2.4"
Min tank
20 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Caves, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Candy Basslet gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Coral HawkfishCoral Hawkfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Swissguard BassletCandy Basslet and Swissguard Basslet are the same genus (Liopropoma) and will fight — keep only one.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Marine BettaA 6 cm cryptic Liopropoma fits the gape and shares the Betta’s nocturnal rockwork niche, making it easy prey.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Yellow TangYellow Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Powder Blue TangPowder Blue Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Keyhole AngelfishKeyhole Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Powder Brown TangPowder Brown Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Square AnthiasSquare Anthias (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Blue-Throat TriggerfishBlue-Throat Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Candy Basslet and may harass it.