Stunning Photos of Different Types of Wrasse Fish

Wrasse fish with green, orange and blue striped scales swimming in tank closeup

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Thinking about adding a Wrasse to your saltwater aquarium? See the Saltwater Aquarium Fish Compatibility Chart first.

Wrasses are beautiful fish that seem to be quickly forgotten when stocking a saltwater aquarium. Here are outstanding photographs of Wrasses, some of which you will seldom see in an aquarium.

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    Female Black and White Wrasse (Coris flavovittata)

    YELLOWSTRIPE CORIS
    MollyNZ / Getty Images

    The Black and White (or Yellowstripe) Wrasse (Coris flavovittata) is uncommon on reefs. Males are rare around the main Hawaiian Islands. Juveniles are black with several white and pink stripes. Females are pink with black and white stripes dorsally. The males are dirty blue with high first dorsal spines and dark blue and black spots on operculum (gill cover). This fish is endemic to Hawaii.

    While juvenile Black and White Wrasses do not fare well in aquariums, due to difficulty in getting them to eat tank-fed foods, the sub-adults and adults do quite well. They will attain a length of about 20 inches, so plan ahead with a larger tank size.

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    Juvenile Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard)

    Juvenile Yellowtail Coris

     

    Jones/Shimlock-Secret Sea Visions / Getty Images

    The Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) is fairly common on reefs. It's coloration changes greatly with age. This Wrasse attains a length of about 12 inches and can be found from Indonesia to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Tuamotus.

    Tiny Yellowtail Coris juveniles typically do not fare well in captivity. It is not unusual for them to waste away and starve to death due to the lack of accepting food, and thus not taking in the high caloric diet they require to survive. It is best to obtain a sub-adult specimen of more than two inches in size, and one that is already eating well to help avoid problems with starvation.

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    Juvenile Yellowtail Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)

    Yellowtail Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)
    Todd Gunderson

    This Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) is transitioning from a juvenile to a sub-adult.

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    Sub-Adult Yellowtail Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)

    Yellowtail Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)
    Gary Harmon

    The Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) is fairly common on reefs. It's coloration changes greatly with age. This Wrasse attains a length of about 12 inches and can be found from Indonesia to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Tuamotus.

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    Sub-Adult Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard)

    yellowtail coris
    johnandersonphoto / Getty Images

    The Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) is fairly common on reefs. It's coloration changes greatly with age. This Wrasse attains a length of about 12 inches and can be found from Indonesia to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Tuamotus.

    It is best to obtain a sub-adult specimen, such as the one in the picture above that is already eating well to help avoid problems with starvation.

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    Female Yellowtail Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)

    Adult Yellow tail coris wrasse
    vojce / Getty Images

    The Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) may reach 4 inches (10 cm) before it matures as a female and develops a new color pattern.

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    Female Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard)

    WRASSE / coris gaimard
    Yann-HUBERT / Getty Images

    The Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) is fairly common on reefs. It's coloration changes greatly with age. This Wrasse attains a length of about 12 inches and can be found from Indonesia to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Tuamotus.

    It is best to obtain a sub-adult specimen or an adult like in the above photograph that is already eating well to help avoid problems with starvation.

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    Male Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard)

    Male Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) next to coral reef
    Thomas Kline / Design Pics / Getty Images

    The Yellowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) is fairly common on reefs. It's coloration changes greatly with age. This Wrasse attains a length of about 12 inches and can be found from Indonesia to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Tuamotus.

    The juvenile yellowtail coris may reach 4 inches (10 cm) before it matures as a female and develops a new color pattern. Later in life, it will change color again if it undergoes a sex change from female to male. Males have a green bar on the side of the body, a dark band on the upper and lower fins, as seen in above photograph.

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    Female Lined Coris (Coris ballieui)

    Female Lined Coris (Coris ballieui)
    Keoki Stender

    The Female Lined Coris (Coris ballieui) is endemic to Hawaii, is found in deep water over rubble and sand and attains 12 inches in length.

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    Male Lined Coris (Coris ballieui)

    Male Lined Coris (Coris ballieui)
    Keoki Stender

    The Male Lined Coris (Coris ballieui) is endemic to Hawaii, is found in deep water over rubble and sand and attains 12 inches in length.

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    Female Elegant Wrasse (Coris venusta)

    Female Elegant Wrasse (Coris venusta)
    Keoki Stender

    The Elegant Wrasse (Coris venusta) is endemic to Hawaii and is commonly found on sandy reefs. Its color varies with age. It has a dark blue spot on gill covers, edged with yellow with a round spot on posterior dorsal fin. It attains a length of eight inches.

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    Male Elegant Wrasse (Coris venusta)

    Male Elegant Wrasse
    Keoki Stender

    The Elegant Wrasse (Coris venusta) is endemic to Hawaii and is commonly found on sandy reefs. Its color varies with age. It has a dark blue spot on gill covers, edged with yellow with a round spot on posterior dorsal fin. It attains a length of eight inches.

    It is shy at first, but once it gets used to being in an aquarium it becomes bolder and will take food out of your hand. The Elegant Wrasse likes to hide, so be sure to give it plenty of cover.

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    Female Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus)

    Female Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) is a non-aggressive species that is compatible with other fishes and is safe with corals but may be a threat to fan worms, small hermit crabs, snails, and ornamental shrimps.

    The Ornate Wrasse is locally common on reefs, especially the neon green juveniles during summer months. The intensity of the neon green coloring decreases with age. It has two dark round spots on its soft dorsal fin when young and on the females. This Wrasse attains six inches in length and is found in the waters of Hawaii and Central and Western Pacific.

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    Male Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus)

    Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus), near Kona; Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, United States of America
    Thomas Kline / Getty Images

    The Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) is a non-aggressive species that is compatible with other fishes and is safe with corals but may be a threat to fan worms, small hermit crabs, snails, and ornamental shrimps.

    The male loses the two dark spots on the dorsal fin that are seen on juveniles and females. This Wrasse attains six inches in length and is found in the waters of Hawaii and Central and Western Pacific.

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    Fivestripe Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)

    Close up of a Fivestripe wrasse
    Madelein_Wolf / Getty Images

    The Fivestripe Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum) in Hawaii is extremely rare in shallow water exposed to surge. It attains a length of five inches and is found only in Hawaii, Ryukyus, and the Indo-Pacific areas.

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    Male Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)

    Christmas Wrasse
    shaun / Getty Images

    The Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum) is fairly common in shallow water in Hawaii, Ryukyus, and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Female Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)

    Female Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)
    Keoki Stender

    The Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum) is fairly common in shallow water in Hawaii, Ryukyus, and the Indo-Pacific. The female Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum) is nearly identical to the Surge wrasse with a nearly oval red-brown mark ahead of the eye. It attains a length of 12 inches.

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    Female Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum)

    Female Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum)
    Keoki Stender

    The Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum) is uncommon in shallow water exposed to wave action. The female of this species is nearly identical to the Christmas wrasse and has only reddish-brown spots ahead of the eye. It attains 17 inches in length and can be found in Hawaii, Southern Japan, and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Male Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum)

    Surge wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum), Red Sea, Egypt.
    Andreas Schumacher/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images

    The Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum) is uncommon in shallow water exposed to wave action. It attains 17 inches in length and can be found in Hawaii, Southern Japan, and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Juvenile Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey)

    Juvenile Saddle Wrasse
    Keoki Stender

    The Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) is endemic to Hawaii and is the state's most common reef fish. It attains a length of 10 inches. This wrasse is closely related to the Sunset wrasse and may hybridize with it.

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    Female Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey)

    Saddle wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey).
    wrangel / Getty Images

    The Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) is endemic to Hawaii and is the state's most common reef fish. It attains a length of 10 inches. The males have a light mark behind the orange saddle. This wrasse is closely related to the Sunset wrasse and may hybridize with it.

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    Sunset Wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens)

    Sunset Wrasse

     

    Jones/Shimlock-Secret Sea Visions / Getty Images

    The Sunset Wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) is very rare in Hawaii on shallow reefs. The females are greenish and both sexes have pink radiating lines on the head. It attains nine inches in length and can be found in Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and Southern Japan, SE Australia to Rapa.

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    Blacktail Wrasse (Thalassoma ballieui)

    Blacktail Wrasse (Thalassoma ballieui)
    Keoki Stender

    The Blacktail (or Old Lady) Wrasse (Thalassoma ballieui) is endemic to Hawaii and is locally common on reefs. The males have a black tail and dark blue pectoral fins while juveniles are bright green in color. It attains 15 inches in length.

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    Female Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus)

    Female Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Pencil (or Smalltail) Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus) is locally common over rubble and dead coral deeper than 40 feet. The male maintains a harem of females and attains five inches in length. It can be found in Hawaii, Southern Japan, and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Male Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus)

    Male Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Pencil (or Smalltail) Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus) is locally common over rubble and dead coral deeper than 40 feet. The male maintains a harem of females and attains five inches in length. It can be found in Hawaii, Southern Japan, and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Sunrise Wrasse (Bodianus sanguineus)

    Sunrise Wrasse (Bodianus sanguineus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Sunrise Wrasse (Bodianus sanguineus) is a rare deep-water (below 150 feet) fish found only in Hawaii. This beautiful little fish attains four inches in length.

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    Female Redtail/Psychedelic Wrasse (Anampses chrysocephalus)

    Female Redtail Wrasse (Anampses chrysocephalus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Redtail or Psychedelic Wrasse (Anampses chrysocephalus) is endemic to Hawaii, found in deeper water among coral rubble. The male maintains a harem of several females. Juveniles are common during summer months. This fish attains a length of six inches.

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    Male Redtail or Psychedelic Wrasse (Anampses chrysocephalus)

    Male Redtail Wrasse (Anampses chrysocephalus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Redtail or Psychedelic Wrasse (Anampses chrysocephalus) is endemic to Hawaii, found in deeper water among coral rubble. The male maintains a harem of several females. Juveniles are common during summer months. This fish attains a length of six inches.

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    Juvenile Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus)

    WRASSE/novaculichthys taeniourus JUVENILE
    Yann-HUBERT / Getty Images

    The Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) is uncommon on coral rubble and rocky reefs. The juveniles vary in color and resemble drifting seaweed. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific area, including Hawaii and the tropical Eastern Pacific. Adults can attain a length of up to 12 inches.

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    Juvenile Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus)

    Juvenile Dragon Wrasse

    Baramee Temboonkiat / Getty Images 

    The Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) is uncommon on coral rubble and rocky reefs. The juveniles vary in color and resemble drifting seaweed. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific area, including Hawaii and the tropical Eastern Pacific. Adults can attain a length of up to 12 inches.

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    Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus)

    A rockmover wrasse looking for a bite among the coral pieces on the bottom of the reef at the Vallée Blanche dive site in Tahiti
    Zoological Consult & Research VOF / Getty Images

    The Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) is uncommon on coral rubble and rocky reefs. This Wrasse spends its time turning stones in search of invertebrates. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific area, including Hawaii and the tropical Eastern Pacific. Adults can attain a length of up to 12 inches.

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    Slingjaw Wrasse (Epibulus insidiator)

    Slingjaw wrasse (Epibulus insidiator).
    wrangel / Getty Images

    You will probably never see the Slingjaw Wrasse (Epibulus insidiator) in an aquarium, as it is found only in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from French Frigate Shoals north to Midway. The juveniles are dark brown or yellow; adults with orange to white. It attains a length of 14 inches and is found in the Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, and the Ryukyus.

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    Twospot Wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus)

    Twospot wrasse

     

    FLPA/Colin Marshall / Getty Images

    The Twospot Wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) males have an extended upper caudal lobe. This fish is locally common in barren areas at deeper scuba depths. It attains a length of four inches and can be found in Hawaii, Southern Japan, and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Juvenile Hawaiian Hogfish (Bodianus albotaeniatus)

    Juvenile Hawaiian Hogfish (Bodianus albotaeniatus)
    Keoki Stender

    The Juvenile Hawaiian Hogfish (Bodianus albotaeniatus) resembles an angelfish. Rarely seen males are white, blotched with purplish brown. This fish is found frequently in barren areas at scuba depths. It attains 20 inches in length and is endemic to Hawaii.

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    Four-lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia)

    Four-Line Wrasse
    Keoki Stender

    The Four-lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia) is a common but shy fish among Finger coral at scuba depths. It attains a length of about 2.5 inches and can be found in Hawaii, Minami-tori-shima, Micronesia, New Caledonia, and Pitcairn.

    The Four-lined Wrasse is a smaller species which does better in a less belligerent tank but may act aggressively toward towards more peaceful wrasses and other small fish. Given the right cover, it will spend a lot of its time hiding and foraging for small snails, worms and crustaceans in live rock.

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    Six-lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)

    Sixline Wrasse
    marcatkins / Getty Images

    Also known as the Sixline or Sixstripe Wrasse, Pseudocheilinus hexataenia is native to reefs of the Indo-Pacific Oceans and the coast of Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives. In the home aquarium, the Six-Lined Wrasse requires a peaceful environment with a generous supply of hiding places and live rock. The Six-Lined Wrasse is known to feed on unwanted pests on live rock, such as bristle worms. It grows to 3 inches in length.

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    Eight-Lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia)

    Eightline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia)
    Keoki Stender

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

    Like most Wrasses, the Eight-Lined Wrasse likes to burrow under the sand or substrate in your tank as a means of sleeping and protection. Be sure to keep the substrate clean for them. It is a fish that can pick up bacterial diseases both internal and external easily.

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    Chinstrap Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus)

    Striated wrasse - Pseudocheilinus evanidus
    vojce / Getty Images

    The Chinstrap Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) appears reddish brown underwater with many fine white stripes. It is locally common among rubble and Finger coral at scuba depths. This fish attains four inches in length and can be found in Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific.

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    Belted Wrasse (Stethojulis balteata)

    Belted Wrasse (Stethojulis balteata), a Hawaiian endemic fish, near a coral reef; Kona, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, United States of America
    Thomas Kline / Getty Images

    The Belted Wrasse (Stethojulis balteata) is common on shallow reefs. It is endemic to Hawaii. Juveniles are brown with a lighter crosshatch pattern. This fish has an orange spot above pectoral axil on all stages and attains a length of six inches.

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    Female Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)

    Female Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
    Keoki Stender

    The Female Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani) is endemic to Hawaii and quite rare among coral rubble in deep water. It attains a length of four inches.

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    Male Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)

    Male Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
    Keoki Stender

    The male Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani) is endemic to Hawaii and quite rare among coral rubble in deep water. It attains a length of four inches.

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    Juvenile Shortnosed Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy)

    Juvenile Shortnose Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy)
    Keoki Stender

    The Shortnosed Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy) is endemic to Hawaii and fairly common on reefs, especially juveniles that resemble seaweed. It attains a length of about four inches.

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    Female Shortnosed Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy)

    Shortnose Wrasse
    Dr. Klaus M. Stiefel - Pacificklaus Photography / Getty Images

    The Shortnosed Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy) is endemic to Hawaii and fairly common on reefs. It attains a length of about four inches.

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    Pearl Wrasse (Anampses cuvier)

    Pearl Wrasse (Anampses cuvier)
    Keoki Stender

    The Pearl Wrasse (Anampses cuvier) is endemic to Hawaii and uncommon in shallow water. It attains a length of 14 inches.

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    Remmy's Banana Wrasse (Helichoeres chrysus)

    Yellow wrasse
    marrio31 / Getty Images

    The Banana Wrasse (Helichoeres chrysus) is also known as the Yellow-brown Wrasse, Sunset Wrasse, or Yellow Wrasse. As an adult, it takes on a yellow appearance if female, and a blue appearance if male. Both sexes have facial markings in green and fine vertical striping along the body. It comes from the reefs around Indonesia and Melanesia.

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    Heidi Diener's Tri-Colored Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)

    Red-eye wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
    wrangel / Getty Images

    This fish is also known as the Tricolor Fairy Wrasse, Redheaded Fairy Wrasse, or Red-eyed Fairy Wrasse. It has a blue body with bright red running along the dorsal edge and a shining yellow-orange face. Colors may vary to other blues and purples depending on the fish's mood. When courting, the male will display an increased color intensity. It comes from the reefs around Indonesia.

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    Harlequin Tusk Wrasse (Choerodon fasciatus)

    Choerodon fasciatus - Harlequin tuskfish
    antos777 / Getty Images

    The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse (Choerodon fasciatus) originates from the reefs of the Indian Ocean and Australia. Indian Ocean Tusk Wrasse have orange stripes with white margins and a hint of blue adjacent to the tail of the fish. Australian Tusk Wrasse have orange stripes with vivid blue margins. Both have bright blue tusks used to crunch invertebrates. Keep only one specimen per tank. Although they will not eat corals, they will eat any small crustaceans or snails.

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    Juvenile Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)

    Juvenile Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
    Keoki Stender

    The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) is endemic to Hawaii. These cleaner fish inhabit coral reefs, setting up a cleaning station. They obtain a diet of small crustacean parasites by removing them from other reef fish in a cleaning symbiosis. As it is an obligate feeder on the ectoparasites of other fish, it will fail to thrive in an aquarium where these feeding needs are not met. It grows to 5 inches (12 cm) in length.

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    Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)

    Hawaian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) by Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) waiting at a cleaning station off the Kona coast,
    Thomas Kline / Design Pics / Getty Images

    The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, also known as the golden cleaner wrasse as an adult, is endemic to Hawaii. These cleaner fish inhabit coral reefs, setting up a cleaning station. They obtain a diet of small crustacean parasites by removing them from other reef fish in a cleaning symbiosis. As it is an obligate feeder on the ectoparasites of other fish, it will fail to thrive in an aquarium where these feeding needs are not met. It grows to 5 inches (12 cm) in length.

Wrasses are beautiful fish that come in many different colors and sizes, as well as personalities. Check to see which ones will be compatible with the other inhabitants of your saltwater aquarium and add a wrasse to your marine menagerie.