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Yellowtail Wrasse
(Anampses meleagrides)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system. Possible to maintain in reefs although larger adults can prove to be a problem. Provide 120 gallons or larger and should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Fairly peaceful species.
Maximum Length: 8.7 in
Food & Diet: Crustaceans, offer mysis, brineshrimp, and chopped shellfish several times a day. Try whole clam, mussel, or cockle that can come apart.
Reef Compatibility: Adults can target smaller species of ornamental crustacean.
Quick Notes: Females are smaller and have a darker body, white spots, and yellow tails. Males are a deep purple with blue flecks and spots. Will almost certainly be targeted by resident territorial species when newly introduced.
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Velvet Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system or reef tanks. Provide 80 gallons or larger and males should be kept singly. Females can be kept in groups with a single male with a much larger aquarium.
Aquarium Behavior: Peaceful but can be aggressive towards similar fish or same-sex members of its own species.
Maximum Length: 3.1 in
Food & Diet: Provide enriched brineshrimp, mysis, chopped shellfish, and dried algae. Also provide vitamin supplements.
Reef Compatibility: Should not harm corals, sessile invertebrates, or ornamental shrimp.
Quick Notes: Other species like, larger wrasses, dottybacks, swallowtail angelfishes and other Fairy Wrasses can prove to be problematic to this species.
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Iridis Wrasse
(Halichoeres iridis)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system. Provide 50 gallons or larger. Keep singly or in pairs with a much larger aquarium.
Aquarium Behavior: Peaceful fish that my chase similar fish, but is rarely long-lived.
Maximum Length: 4.7 in
Food & Diet: Meaty foods; mysis, brineshrimp and chopped shellfish. Once settled offer dried foods.
Reef Compatibility: May target small beneficial snails or even small algae-grazing species, and smaller ornamental shrimp.
Quick Notes: Considered to one of the most peaceful species for a community aquariums. Best housed with other generally peaceful fish.
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Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
(Labroides dimidiatus)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system or reef tanks. Provide 26 gallons or larger. Keep singly or in true pairs.
Aquarium Behavior: The wrasse solicits fish for cleaning, which can irritate them to the point of chasing the cleaner around in the tank. Never aggressive, but other fish can become irritated with its "over doing" cleaning duties.
Maximum Length: 4.5 in
Food & Diet: Wild species consume mucus and crustacean parasites from other fish. In the tank, they scruntinize other fish, looking for morsels to pick off, but they should also accept small particulate foods like, chipped mysis or brineshrimp, enrich it with vitamin supplements.
Reef Compatibility: Should not harm corals or ornamental inverts.
Quick Notes: Most other marine fish recognize this fish as a cleaner and will accept its presence.
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Leopard Wrasse
(Macropharyngodon meleagris)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system or reef. Provide 40 gallon or larger and well established aquarium. Does best with plenty of live rock. Keep singly or in pairs.
Aquarium Behavior: Peaceful
Maximum Length: 5.9 in
Food & Diet: Offer a varity of foods, including enriched mysis and brineshrimp, frozen formula products, and dried algae. Feed several times a day.
Reef Compatibility: Will not harm most invertebrates, but may consume beneficial "hitchhikers" associated with live rock.
Quick Notes: Do not stock overly aggressive fish with this species. This species will burrow into the sand at night but active during much of the daylight. Providing plenty of live rock will improve better success with this species.
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Dragon Wrasse
(Novaculichthys taeniourus)
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Tank: Fish only aquarium. Provide 120 gallons or larger and keep singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Great fish to keep with fish such as puffers and triggers but not with smaller fish as it will bully it and sometimes even eat them if they are not quick to get away. Try to choose species of the similar size.
Maximum Length: 11.8 in
Food & Diet: Will accept most meaty fish, in the wild this fish turns over rocks to eat worms, urchins, molluscs, and various crustaceans.
Reef Compatibility: Not safe with invertebrates.
Quick Notes: Reputation for jumping out of the aquarium this species personality changes. From being suitable for the ordinary fish-only aquarium, it becomes a specimen for whom robust tankmates are essential. Also known as "rockmover wrasse" is a clue to the problems that can be caused in the aquarium.
Juvenile Dragon
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Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
(Paracheilinus carpenteri)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system or reef. Provide 46 gallons or larger with enough swimming room. Keep one male only per tank.
Aquarium Behavior: Peaceful.
Maximum Length: 3.1 in
Food & Diet: Enriched brineshrimp and chopped mysis, supplement with chopped shellfish. Once settled try flake and granular foods, some will take dried algae as well.
Reef Compatibility: Should not harm any corals or ornamental invertebrates.
Quick Notes: Keep this species in a peaceful aquarium. This species is not difficult to maintain "assuming you follow a few rules," although its stunning beauty make some assume it should be.
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Pajama (sixline) Wrasse
(Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system or reef. Provide 13 gallons or larger. Keep singly or in pairs. Male/female.
Aquarium Behavior: Some may be highly aggressive towards new introductions while others are much more shy.
Maximum Length: 4 in
Food & Diet: Mysis and brineshrimp, most any meaty foods.
Reef Compatibility: Can attack ornamental shrimp.
Quick Notes: A well thought-out stocking plan can help to avoid potential problems. Most other species should not have a problem with the Pajama with the exception of dottybacks, as they have a similar rock- loving existence.
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Eightline Wrasse
(Pseudocheilinus Octotaenia)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish only system or reef. Provide 48 gallons or larger. Keep singly or in pairs.
Aquarium Behavior: Can possibly harass and damage other fish that are unable to escape its attentions when it grows over 2.3 in.
Maximum Length: 5.5 in
Food & Diet: Accepts most foods such as; mysis, brineshrimp, chopped shellfish, and whole cockles.
Reef Compatibility: Should not harm corals but may take small crustaceans, including hermit crabs and small molluscs.
Quick Notes: This species is very hardy, do not be put off by individuals with faded colors, as these may be the result of stress in the dealer's tank or the fact that the fish has been stocked for a long time. After a short period in a home aquarium the colors become brilliant once more.
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Sharpnosed possum Wrasse
(Wetmorella nigropinnata)
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Tank: Live-rock based or reef. Provide plenty of live rock with many hiding place. 10 gallons with excellent water conditions. Keep singly or in pairs.
Aquarium Behavior: Initially timid, but its confidence will grow.
Maximum Length: 3 in
Food & Diet: Accepts brineshrimp, mysis, and chopped shellfish.
Reef Compatibility: Trustworthy with corals and other invertebrates.
Quick Notes: This species is ideal for a peaceful reef aquarium.
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