Wrasse Facts, Information, Photos and Pictures

The Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius) is a hardy fish which adapts rather well to aquarium life. Only one male (Green Bird) should be kept to an aquarium. A male-female pair should be added to the aquarium at the same time, introducing the female (Black Bird) first.

The Black and White Wrasse (Coris flavovittata) is a carnivore that possesses two prominent teeth in the front of each jaw that are used for feeding on its favorite prey -- snails, hermit crabs, crabs, shrimps, mollusks, and sea urchins. It will eat nuisance bristle worms, but other beneficial worms as well, including decorative tube species.

The Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) is called the "Rockmover Wrasse" because it is notorious for turning over and moving rocks and corals around to look for food. This can cause damage to desirable organisms, and rock formations to become unstable, which may result in toppling rocks to damage the tank's structure.

The Eight-Lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia) is a very shy at first, but once it gets used to being in an aquarium it becomes more bold and will take food out of your hand. The Eight-Lined Wrasse likes to hide, so be sure to give it plenty of cover.

The Elegant Wrasse (Coris venusta) is a carnivore and will eat small crustaceans and inverts. Be sure to be careful putting any of these animals in with this Wrasse or they may become a snack. They will eat shrimp, fish and other tank fed foods and are a fairly easy Wrasse to care for in an aquarium.

The Four Lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia) has a bright blue colored body with four longitudinal bands on the upper part of the body that are bright blue, outlined by fine black lines and an orange color between them.

Because the Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse's (Labroides phthirophagus) diet is mainly derived from its symbiotic relationship with other fish by eating parasites, this Wrasse does not do well in captivity. It is extremely difficult to get this fish to eat any other types of foods, and once the parasite food population is gone it results in poor health, and most likely death for the Wrasse.

The Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) is a carnivore. Its main diet consists of small crustaceans and invertebrates. In captivity it well feed on meaty fares such as fresh or frozen seafoods, dried, frozen or live brine and mysid shrimp, live grass shrimp, as well as flake foods. Recommended to feed several times a day.

The Saddleback Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) is a beautiful fish with its vibrant blue and green colors and the brownish-orange saddle bar marking around the body behind the head, which gives it its name the Saddleback Wrasse. When viewed closely you can also see short, vertical, purple-red bars on its body.

The Yellowtail Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard) Should be fed a hardy diet of suitably bite sized pieces of meaty foods that includes fresh or frozen seafoods, live or frozen brine and mysid shrimp, live grass or ghost shrimp, live black worms, and flake food.