Banded Longfin Basslet
Belonepterygion fasciolatum
| 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 | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 2 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Banded Longfin Basslet (Belonepterygion fasciolatum) is a small, banded reef fish with extended fins and a perch-and-peek style that fits naturally into rockwork-heavy reef displays. It’s found in the Indo-West Pacific in shallow rocky areas, including reef flats and tide-pool zones, so it appreciates structure and shaded spots in the aquascape.
What You’ll Observe:
- Short dashes between rock ledges, with long pauses tucked under overhangs
- “Peeking” behavior from a preferred crevice, especially once it has claimed a home spot
- Quick, precise grabs at small foods drifting past its hiding area
- Most visible in calm periods around feeding time and when the room is quieter
To succeed, provide abundant live rock with tight crevices and a few darker retreats so it can settle in and choose a secure home base. Offer small meaty foods (like finely sized frozen options) in consistent, low-stress feedings so it learns where food appears. It does best when tankmates allow it space near its chosen rockwork.
Will I see it out in the open every day?
Many keepers report this species spends long stretches tucked into rockwork and may only show itself briefly at first. In a settled, lower-commotion tank it often becomes a more regular “peek out and patrol” fish over time.
Is it normal if it eats but I rarely spot it?
Yes—hobbyists commonly describe it feeding from within the rocks, darting out for a bite, then returning to cover. Seeing it during feeding is often the first reliable “check-in” behavior.
What kind of aquascape seems to make it show up more?
Posts frequently mention better visibility when there are multiple small caves and shaded ledges (not just one deep hole). Giving it several nearby “escape routes” can make it more willing to hover at the entrance.
Will it bother tiny decorative shrimp?
Keepers often treat very small shrimp as potential prey items for basslet-type fish. If your goal is to keep micro-shrimp front-and-center, most hobbyists lean toward choosing larger shrimp species or keeping small shrimp in areas the fish can’t easily hunt.
Why does it get described as a “longfin pseudochromis” sometimes?
In hobby discussions it gets compared to dottyback/basslet-style fish because it lives in rockwork and uses quick bursts to grab food. The common-name overlap is mostly about behavior and body plan, not a sign that it needs dottyback-style aggression in the tank.
Our selection process means you get robust, well-adjusted specimens that settle in quickly.
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