Indigo Hamlet

Description
Hamlets are members of the sea bass family. Some fish experts believe all hamlets to be one species, but even if that is correct, there are many varieties of colorful hamlets. Indigo hamlets are small, generally 3-5'12 inches in length. They are a medium wide fish with beautiful broad blue and indigo bars separated by narrow white bars. Their forward fins are blue and their rear fins are white or clear. These little fish are considered shy.

Habitat
Indigo hamlets live on reefs near the bottom in depths of 40-140 feet. They are territorial and live at one site unless forced to move by nature.

Feeding
Hamlets search their territory for food, eating crabs, shrimp and occasionally fish.

Breeding
Each hamlet has both male and female productive organs. They generally spawn at sunset, finding mates that live near their respective territory. Hamlets have an elaborate mating ritual and an individual hamlet may assume either the female role or male role for the mating dance. The dance is characterized by snout position, flaring fins and head movements and is quite elaborate. The female role is the aggressor role.