Swales' Basslet

About

Swales' basslet (Liopropoma swalesi) is a small, elusive fish from the Western Pacific, found around Vanuatu, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and New Britain. In the wild it tucks itself into dense brittle coral formations on coastal slopes, typically around 25 meters down, living a solitary and largely hidden existence. That secretive nature carries right over into the aquarium, where it will spend much of its time sheltering among rockwork and emerging cautiously on its own schedule. The orange-lined patterning it carries is what earns it its other common name, and it is genuinely a rewarding fish to observe once it settles in and gains confidence. Because it stays small and doesn't demand a large footprint, it can work in a reasonably compact reef setup, though it will need plenty of caves and overhangs to feel secure. It's a carnivore, so meaty foods are the way to go, and getting it to feed consistently in captivity is part of why it lands in the intermediate care category rather than the beginner column. If you're willing to put in the patience, this little basslet can become a centerpiece of a carefully arranged nano reef.