Wrassefish Family Labridae Profile

By Stan & Debbie Hauter, About.com Guides

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Sub-Adult Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard)

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Wrassefish Family Labridae Profile:

Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Actinopterygii = Osteichthyes (Ray-Finned or Bony Fishes)
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Genera: Anampses, Bodianus (Hogfishes), Cirrhilabrus (Fairy Wrasses), Coris, Hemipteronotus (Razorfishes), Labroides (Cleaner Wrasses), Paracheilinus (Flasher Wrasses), Pseudocheilinus (Lined Wrasses), Pseudojuloides (Pencil Wrasses), Thalassoma, and many others.

Wrassefishes are a large family and include about 600 species, having a greater variety of species included within their family than do most other groups. These fish can be found in tropical waters around the world.

Their bodies vary in shape from species which are elongated and somewhat spindle-shaped, to those whose bodies are deep and compressed. The dorsal fin is usually continuous and the caudal fin, although variously shaped, is never forked at its extremity. The pelvic fins always have one spine and five rays, are placed far forward on the body, and are separate from each other.

Males and females of some species are identical or similar in appearance, while the sexes of others are easily determined because the males are brightly colored and often covered with patterns and/or spots on the body, and the females are usually light brown, gray, or green-ish in color with few markings.

During their lifetimes as these fish grow from juveniles into adults, they can go through many different color and pattern phases. For this reason Wrasses are very often difficult to recognize and identify as a specific species.

Characteristics & Compatibility

The 3 Basic Wrasse Categories:

Wrasses have a wide range of behaviors, but here are some overall characteristic traits of fishes in this family.

Species that are quite docile and commune well with most all other wrasses and non-related fishes. These are fish best kept in a non-aggressive fish tank community.
The species that are rather docile as juveniles, but as they grow into adulthood become more boisterous and may start bullying other smaller and/or more-docile fishes. These are fish best kept in a moderately-aggressive tank community, preferably with the other fishes larger than they are.

Species that as juveniles are moderately-aggressive and may pick on or chase around other less-aggressive fishes, but as adults become very aggressive and territorial. These are Wrasses that have very strong jaws and hefty teeth, do not get along with members of the same species or sex, and are best kept singly with other aggressive species such as Triggers, Groupers, Hawks, and larger Tang or Surgeonfishes.

Other General Wrasse Characteristics and Traits:

Wrasses are predatory carnivores, and even though most fishes in the Labridae family have a small mouth, they contain separate teeth in the front, and usually have projecting canine teeth in the front corners of the mouth.
In most cases if male-female pairs are placed into an aquarium, the female should be introduced first, or at least simultaneously with the male.
With some species one male and two or more females can be placed in the same community.
There are few species where multiple females can kept together, and in this situation it is not unusual for "one" of them to transform into a male.

Wrasses are fast moving fishes and have a tendency to jump out of aquariums.
Depending on an individual species, Wrasses range in size anywhere from 3 up to 20 inches.
A majority of Wrassefishes sleep in the sand, and some make mucus cocoons.

Providing the Proper Habitat:

For the sand dwelling species it is important to provide them with an adequate layer of fine sand substrate to bury into at night, or dive into when they feel threatened. Depending on the size of an individual species, between 2 to 4 inches is recommended. If sand is not available these fish will find rocks to hide or burrow under, and this often results in the toppling of rockscapes if the fish is large.

Two other must haves: a large enough aquarium with lots of room for swimming around and ample shelter for hiding, especially if you decide to keep multiple Wrasses in the same tank.

Potential Diseases:

When owning a Wrasse be sure to keep the substrate properly maintained. If the substrate is not kept clean these fish can easily pick up internal and/or external bacterial infections, and are susceptible to fungal diseases.

You can tell when a Wrasse has a bacterial infection of the air bladder. The fish's abdomen swells up and becomes bloated as air builds up and is trapped inside the bladder. The fish looses the ability to swim upright and cannot stay on the bottom of the tank. It will constantly struggle to swim and exhausts itself in the process, and other fish may pick on it knowing that it is weak.

Suggested Feedings:

3 times a day for most species. However, for those that are micro-invertebrate feeders, 2 daily feedings are suggested, unless the aquarium is providing them with ample live foods. It is important to know that the Anampses, Pseudojuloides, and Labroides species are difficult to feed and to not fair well in captivity.

If you plan to have a larger wrasse species in an aquarium, be prepared. They will more than likely pick up and turn over the live rocks and possibly corals in the tank, so expect to have your decor rearranged.

Suitable Aquarium Foods:

These fish can be fed a diet of frozen preparations suitable for carnivores, frozen, live or dried shrimp, mysid shrimp, live black worms, other meaty fares such as finely chopped fresh or frozen seafoods, as well as enriched foods that have added vitamins, amino acids, and color enhancing pigments.

Most species adapt fairly well to aquarium life, but there are some that are best kept in an aquarium with a productive live rock and live sand bed micro-invertebrate population present. This allows them to forage for live foods as they do in nature throughout the day. Have you ever seen a Yellowtail Coris or Dragon Wrasse feed in nature? Why do you think the Dragon Wrasse is referred to as a Rockmover? These are two of the larger predatory wrasses that will find small rocks or pieces of coral rubble and turn them over to look for food.

Diet & Feeding:

Wrasses are carnivores that in nature primarily eat small crustaceans, snails, marine worms, and other types of micro and macro-invertebrates. Many species will eat other smaller fishes, and some individuals may nibble on marine plant life at times.