Randall's Assessor

Care at a glance

Overview

A 110 litre or larger reef with caves, ledges and overhangs suits it at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It is fully reef safe and peaceful, only defending its own den, and can be kept in a small group in a large aquascape. Feed small meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine and finely chopped seafood. Provide plenty of shaded overhangs so it stays out where you can see it.

In the wild

Randall's assessor is a small blue fish, developing red accents with age, that hovers under ledges and cave roofs, often swimming upside down. It is the least common of the three assessors in the trade. It is shy and peaceful, using caves for cover when startled. Groups can share a large cave-rich tank.

Good to know

Assessor randalli reaches about 8 cm and belongs to the same family as the comets and longfins, the Plesiopidae. Like its relatives it is a mouthbrooder and often orients belly-up under overhangs. It is the third and least-known member of the assessor genus.

Did you know

It often hangs upside down beneath ledges, treating the roof of a cave as its floor.

Related species

• 

  Blue Assessor

  Assessor macneilli

  2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Yellow Assessor

  Assessor flavissimus

  2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Marine Betta

  Calloplesiops altivelis

  6.3 in (16 cm)55 gal (210 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Carpenter's flasher wrasse

  Paracheilinus carpenteri

  3.1 in (8 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Green Chromis

  Chromis viridis

  3.1 in (8 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Pajama Cardinalfish

  Sphaeramia nematoptera

  3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)