Macneill’s Assessor Basslet
Assessor macneilli
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
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Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
Macneill’s Assessor Basslet (Assessor macneilli) is a deep blue assessor basslet often listed as a Blue Assessor or “mini grouper.” It naturally lives around reef caves and ledges in the Southwest Pacific, and in aquariums it commonly stays close to rockwork and shaded areas.
What You’ll Observe:
- Hovering under overhangs and along vertical rock faces, then making short, quick swims into open water
- Swimming inverted (upside down) at times, especially under ledges
- A consistent “home base” pattern—returning to the same area between laps around the tank
- Fast, accurate strikes at drifting foods in the water column
- More regular daytime visibility as it gets comfortable with your tank’s routine
Provide an aquascape with multiple overhangs and cave-like gaps so it can choose a preferred resting spot. Offer small meaty foods (like mysis, enriched brine, and finely chopped seafood) on a dependable schedule so it learns where feeding happens. In mixed reefs, it does best when tankmates allow it a little personal space around its chosen rockwork.
Is it normal for this fish to swim upside down?
Yes—many keepers report inverted swimming as a routine behavior, especially when it’s under ledges or tucked into caves.
Can it be kept with cleaner shrimp and other ornamental shrimp?
Most hobbyists report good results with larger cleaner shrimp (like skunk and fire shrimp). With very small shrimp, many aquarists prefer to monitor interactions and choose larger shrimp species when possible.
Why does it “disappear” even though it’s still in the tank?
It can wedge into tight rock gaps and blend into shaded areas, so it may be hard to spot between feedings. Many keepers do a quick check of overflows and back chambers if it vanishes unexpectedly.
Do Macneill’s Assessors jump?
Some keepers report sudden disappearances in quarantine or newly set-up tanks and prefer a full cover or mesh lid, especially during the first week.
Can I keep it with a Gold/Yellow Assessor (or another Assessor species)?
Many aquarists report that assessors can coexist well, especially when introduced thoughtfully and given enough room to settle into separate areas.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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