🐠 Tobacco Basslet (Serranus tabacarius)
A Tan-to-Burnt-Orange Body With a Bold Horizontal Band • Dark Mottled Saddles • One of the Largest, Boldest Basslets
 
📋 The Tobacco Basslet, also known as the Tobacco Bass or Tobaccofish, has an attractive tan-to-burnt-orange body with a wide, distinctive horizontal orange band running its length, and darker brown-to-black mottled markings across its back.
It comes from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, where it hovers above sandy, rubble, and rocky areas near reefs, darting out from cover to seize passing prey, and it's sometimes seen following goatfish to snap up anything they stir from the substrate. Every Tobacco Basslet we ship is feeding well, and it's a hearty, reliable eater.
It's one of the larger, bolder basslets available, reaching up to 18cm, and while not overtly aggressive, it defends its favoured hiding spot and chases off fish that venture too close. As it grows it becomes a confident, active predator that will take small crustaceans and tiny fish such as damselfish, gobies, and blennies. It's reef safe with caution: it won't pick at corals, and it's best kept singly, or with several introduced together for a small group, alongside robust tankmates too large to be seen as prey. Plan on at least 265L for one, and 470L or more for a group.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Tan-Orange Body, Mottled Saddles: A bold, characterful basslet
📏 One of the Larger Basslets: Up to 18cm
🎯 A Confident Ambush Hunter: Darts out from cover to seize prey
🍽️ Ships Feeding Well: A hearty, reliable eater
🌿 Reef Safe With Caution: Won't harm corals, but eats small crustaceans and tiny fish