The Melanurus Wrasse, also sold as Hoeven's Wrasse or the Tail-spot Wrasse, carries an emerald-green body ruled by horizontal magenta and electric-blue striping, punctuated by the dark spot at the base of the caudal fin that gives the fish its common name. Terminal-phase males are the showpieces, wearing a vivid blue head marked with pink scribbling and brightly edged fins, while initial-phase juveniles and females are paler with softer, less defined markings. The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite: every individual begins life female, and the dominant fish in a group can transition into a terminal-phase male, frequently within twelve to eighteen months in an aquarium. Specimens offered here originate from Fiji and Indonesia, part of a broad natural range that extends from the eastern Indian Ocean through the Western Pacific, north to southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef, where the fish works shallow lagoon and seaward reef flats between roughly 3 and 50 feet along sand-and-rubble zones bordering coral.

Adults reach about 5 inches and require a minimum of 55 gallons, with larger footprints strongly preferred since this wrasse patrols every corner of the system throughout the day. Systems beyond 75 gallons suit the species particularly well, and a harem of one male with several females is a project for tanks of 180 gallons or more. A sand bed is non-negotiable, because this fish dives headfirst into the substrate each night to bury itself completely. Use fine aragonite sand at a depth of roughly 2 to 4 inches, with 1 to 2 inches as the absolute floor; crushed coral and gravel can abrade the mouth and gills during burial and should be avoided. Mature live rock arranged with caves and a generous open sand-to-rock interface gives the fish productive hunting ground. Cover the aquarium completely, as startled Melanurus Wrasses jump, and a tight-fitting lid is the single most important piece of insurance you can provide.