Tobacco Basslet

The Tobacco Basslet is a hardy and attractively patterned small grouper from the Caribbean, named for its warm tobacco-brown coloration marked with distinctive darker bands and saddle markings. The body displays a pleasing gradient of orange-brown to salmon tones with several bold, dark vertical bars that intensify or fade depending on the fish's mood and environment. A prominent dark blotch is often visible near the base of the pectoral fin, and the fins may show hints of orange or yellow edging. At a maximum size of about 7 inches, it is one of the more manageable grouper species for home aquariums.

In the wild, Serranus tabacarius is common throughout the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, from southern Florida and the Bahamas south to Brazil. It inhabits reef slopes, rubble zones, and rocky areas at moderate depths, typically between 10 and 70 meters. It is a generalist predator that feeds opportunistically on small fish, shrimp, and crabs, and is often observed hovering near the substrate or perching on rock ledges surveying its territory.

The Tobacco Basslet is one of the most beginner-friendly grouper species available, combining the bold personality and predatory appeal of larger groupers with a much more practical adult size. It adapts quickly to captive conditions, readily accepts frozen and prepared foods from the start, and is remarkably disease-resistant. A 55-gallon aquarium provides adequate space, and it does well in FOWLR setups with moderately aggressive community fish. While it will eat small shrimp and tiny fish, its relatively small mouth limits the size of potential prey.