Broomtail Wrasse (Cheilinus Lunulatus) saltwater aquarium fish portrait

The Broomtail Wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus), also sold as the Thicklip or Red Sea Wrasse, is a labrid of reef slopes and adjacent sand flats across the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific. Coloration is variable and shifts with sex and maturity: some individuals show a bluish-green body with yellow-orange crescent markings across the tail, while others present a darker body broken by a thick white vertical bar behind the gill plate. The common name refers to the elongated filaments that trail from the caudal fin of developed specimens, which fray the tail into a broom-like fan. Males tend to be more vividly marked than females. The species is only occasionally available to aquarists.

Adult housing should begin at 75 gallons, though this is a fish that rewards the largest system an aquarist can provide. Aquascaping is best styled after its natural reef and sand-flat habitat, with generous open water for cruising and rockwork bedded securely on the substrate rather than stacked loosely, since this wrasse routinely shifts rock and sand while foraging. A well-fitted lid is sensible for a powerful, active swimmer of this type. A mature, stable system suits it better than a newly established one.

In nature this wrasse is a carnivore that crushes and consumes shrimp, crayfish, crabs, small bivalves, snails, and sea urchins. Captive feeding should mirror that hard-shelled, meaty profile with a genuinely varied rotation rather than a single staple. Large pieces of chopped seafood, frozen preparations, and prepared flake foods are all accepted once the fish is settled.

Newly imported specimens often respond best to live foods at first, which encourages a feeding response and eases the transition into captivity. Once the fish is eating reliably, shift it onto frozen and prepared items. Offer food daily or every other day, adjusting portion size so that a large-bodied carnivore maintains good weight without fouling the system.

Live Shrimp Frozen Mysis Shrimp Chopped Clam Chopped Squid Chopped Krill Marine Flake Food
This is a semi-aggressive, highly active swimmer that patrols open water for much of the day. It can be pushy toward tankmates, and aggression is most pronounced toward wrasses of similar form and size. Newly added individuals present a contradiction worth planning around: they may act aggressively while also being easily stressed by established tankmates or by activity outside the glass, so a calm introduction and plenty of unclaimed swimming space help it settle.

Choose tankmates that are robust enough to hold their own and large enough not to register as prey, since small fish are at risk. Corals and sessile invertebrates are generally left alone, but mobile invertebrates are not: shrimp, crabs, snails, small bivalves, and sea urchins are all natural prey items. Reef keepers who value an ornamental cleanup crew should weigh that loss carefully before adding this wrasse.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Broomtail Wrasse

  • Is the Broomtail Wrasse reef safe?
    It is reef safe with caution. Corals and sessile invertebrates are generally left undisturbed, but shrimp, crabs, snails, small bivalves, sea urchins, and small fish are all at risk.
  • How large an aquarium does a Broomtail Wrasse need?
    Plan on a 75-gallon aquarium as the minimum for an adult, with plenty of open swimming lanes and rockwork seated firmly on the substrate.
  • How do I get a newly imported Broomtail Wrasse eating?
    Start with live foods such as shrimp or small crabs to trigger a feeding response, then transition the fish onto frozen, flake, and chopped seafood offered daily or every other day.