Chalk Basslet (Serranus tortugarum)

Chalk Basslets are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning every individual carries both male and female organs at once and functions as either during a single spawning bout — pairs trade roles back and forth, releasing eggs as female one round and fertilizing as male the next, splitting the reproductive workload evenly instead of committing to one sex for life. On the reef they hover in loose groups just off the rubble, an easy habit to recreate in a peaceful tank.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~2.5" · Min tank: 20 gal · Diet: Carnivore, meaty foods