Overview
- Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly found in coral reefs, lagoons, and seagrass beds.
- Recognized for its vibrant green and blue body with striking orange and yellow patterns.
- A highly active swimmer, frequently seen darting through rock formations and sandy bottoms.
- Juveniles display more subdued coloration, which intensifies as they mature.
- Popular in reef aquariums due to its pest control abilities, including eating bristle worms and flatworms.
Feeding
- Carnivorous diet, primarily feeding on small crustaceans, copepods, and polychaete worms.
- Readily consumes frozen and live foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and chopped seafood.
- Can be trained to eat high-quality marine pellets and flake foods.
- Requires multiple small meals throughout the day to maintain energy levels.
- Enjoys foraging in the sandbed for hidden prey, mimicking natural hunting behavior.
Habitat
- Typically found in shallow reefs and sandy coastal areas.
- Requires an aquarium with open swimming space and a fine sand substrate for burrowing.
- Best kept in tanks with live rock formations to provide shelter and hunting grounds.
- Moderate to strong water flow is recommended to replicate natural reef conditions.
- A minimum tank size of 75 gallons (284 L) is recommended due to its active nature.
Fish Care
- Optimal water temperature: 74-80°F (23-27°C).
- Ideal pH range: 8.1–8.4, with a specific gravity of 1.025–1.026 (about 33–35 ppt).
- Requires stable water conditions and consistent tank maintenance.
- Can be sensitive to sudden fluctuations in salinity or temperature.
- Regular sandbed maintenance is crucial, as it burrows at night for protection.
Compatibility
- Generally peaceful but may become territorial towards other wrasses of similar size.
- Compatible with other peaceful reef fish such as tangs, gobies, and clownfish.
- Should not be housed with highly aggressive species that may intimidate it.
- Reef-safe with corals but may consume small ornamental shrimp and snails.
- Does well in a community setting but thrives best when given adequate space.
Aquarium Behavior
- Highly active swimmer, frequently exploring every part of the aquarium.
- Often seen picking at live rock and sand for small invertebrates.
- Burrows in the sand at night for protection, emerging in the morning.
- Displays curiosity towards new tank additions and environmental changes.
- Thrives in a tank that replicates its natural reef environment with ample space and hiding spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What other names does the Tail-spot Wrasse have?
In the trade it is also sold as the Melanurus Wrasse, and it is also called Hoeven's Wrasse.
What does it look like?
It is blue-green with pink or yellow horizontal stripes, and juveniles are more muted in color.
How big does it get?
Our page lists about 5 in (13 cm).
What size tank does it need?
Plan on at least 75 gallons (284 L). It also needs a tight-fitting lid and a 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) sand bed to hide in.
Why is it useful in a reef tank?
It eats fireworms and pyramidellid snails, helping protect corals and clams. That suits its cleanup crew role on our page.
Can it harm any invertebrates?
It may eat feather dusters, small wild shrimp, tubeworms and flatworms, so take care with those.
What does it eat in the wild?
It feeds on small invertebrates such as polychaete worms, copepods, isopods and forams.
What should I feed it?
Offer vitamin-enriched frozen mysis and brine shrimp, other meaty foods, and quality marine flakes and pellets.
Can I keep it with other wrasses?
It can live with other peaceful wrasses, including its own species.
What is its natural habitat?
It lives mostly on shallow coral reefs and rocky shores, at about 3 to 49 ft (1 to 15 m).