Reef-Safe Wrasses
Choosing a Reef-Safe Wrasse
Compare species within our reef-safe wrasses by adult size, temperament, sex, sleep behavior, and invertebrate interest. Reef safe is a useful starting label, not a certainty. Inspect potential fish for clear eyes, intact mouths and fins, steady swimming, and an active feeding response before adding them to a reef.
Habitat Planning
Provide open swimming room, rock crevices, and a tightly fitted lid with every gap covered. Sand-sleeping genera need an adequately deep bed of fine, nonabrasive sand, while others shelter in rockwork. Use reliable aquarium supplies to maintain stable conditions and protect overflows or openings.
Feeding and Tankmates
Offer varied, appropriately sized fish food, often in multiple modest meals for active species. Consider feeding speed and established territories when selecting companions. Some wrasses may eat ornamental crustaceans or tiny invertebrates despite leaving corals untouched, and similarly colored wrasses can show aggression.
Acclimation and Introduction
Match temperature, account for salinity differences, and minimize time in shipping water. Quarantine with suitable sand or shelter when the species requires it. Introduce with lights dimmed and consider an acclimation box when resident fish are territorial. Monitor jumping attempts, hiding, feeding, and aggression through the first several days.
