Halichoeres

Halichoeres melanurus

(Bleeker, 1851)

Tailspot Wrasse

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: West Central Pacific Ocean: Japan to the Great Barrier Reef and east to Samoa.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rubble and sandy areas in shallow lagoons and usually found at depths between 15 – 85 feet (5 – 25 m) where it feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with males sometimes having a pale green face and body with reddish irregular lines on the face and bluish green horizontal lines on the body and a black spot edged in blue on the tail. Females tend to be similar in color, yet with a black eyespot on the dorsal.

Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having a fine sand bed, (0.5 – 2.0 mm) and at least 4 inches deep, along with several rocky crevices to hunt and also open swimming areas. It will also quickly burrow into the sand bed if frightened or for sleeping at night. May eat any snails in the aquarium.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine-based frozen or fresh foods, and should be fed twice daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Halichoeres

FYI: Upon first entering the aquarium may stay buried for days. Simply await its decision when to emerge. Once established, it will go to sleep under the sand and arise the next morning at almost the exact same time every day!

Generally peaceful as a juvenile, yet as it grows into adulthood, may pick on passive smaller tankmates.

The aquarium should have small pieces of rocks for the wrasse to ‘play’ with in its daily search for prey.

Can greatly stir bottom sandbeds creating large clouds of sand being dispensed in many directions.

One male per aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium