Melanurus wrasse

Care at a glance

The melanurus wrasse is green with blue and orange lines across the head and changes colour markedly through life: juveniles and adult males look almost like different species. It is on the move all day and rests at night buried in the sand.

It is a useful hunter of unwanted reef life such as flatworms, small bristleworms and pyramid snails. On the other hand, ornamental shrimp and small crustaceans are not always safe; provide a sand bed to sleep in and cover the tank well, because wrasses jump.

Good to know

• Digger — needs fine sand
• Known jumper — cover the tank
• Preys on shrimp and snails

Related species

• Pajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematoptera
• Yellow coris wrasseHalichoeres chrysus
• Chalk bassSerranus tortugarum
• Fairy wrasse (other species)Cirrhilabrus sp.
• Bicolor dottybackPictichromis paccagnellae
• Solar fairy wrasseCirrhilabrus solorensis