The Two Spot Wrasse (Cheilinus bimaculatus, also listed under the synonym Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) is a slender, streamlined wrasse built for speed and quick turns through rockwork. Adults are largely green to blue-green, marked with dark spots and blotches across the head and body and a defining black spot near the base of the tail. Males tend to be the more vividly colored sex and develop a rhomboid caudal fin with a single elongated filament trailing from it, while females keep a rounded tail and lack that filament. Reported adult length runs to roughly 6 inches.

Plan on a mature aquarium of at least 75 gallons for a single adult. This is an active, nearly constant swimmer that makes real use of open water, so the layout should pair generous swimming lanes with a substantial live rock structure offering caves and crevices for retreat. A soft substrate suits its habits, though the fish will shuffle sand and nudge loose rocks around as it forages; stack the rockwork so it is stable and cannot be toppled or undermined. A tight-fitting lid is mandatory, as wrasses are persistent jumpers and will find any open gap in the top of the tank.

In the wild this wrasse is a dedicated carnivore, working reef structure for shrimp, crabs, small bivalves, sea urchins, snails, tube worms, and similar invertebrate prey. That hunting instinct carries directly into the aquarium, where the fish will patrol rock and sand for anything small enough to crush or swallow. Meaty foods form the entire basis of a correct captive diet.

Offer a rotating mix of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, small crustaceans, finely chopped seafood, and a quality pellet formulated for wrasses. One to two feedings per day suits most specimens, and several smaller feedings spread through the day work even better for such an active fish. Newly introduced individuals sometimes ignore prepared items at first; live feed is a reliable way to trigger a feeding response and ease the transition to frozen and dry foods.

Mysis Shrimp Brine Shrimp Small Crustaceans Chopped Seafood Wrasse Pellets Live Feed
Expect a bold, busy fish that spends its day cruising the open water and probing rockwork, then wedges itself into a crevice at night. Temperament is semi-aggressive, and this wrasse can turn on other species as it matures, with the strongest reactions directed at larger crustaceans and other invertebrates. It also holds territory within the tank, so tankmates should be chosen with that in mind. Do not house two males together, and avoid adding a second wrasse of the same or similar appearance, since fighting is the likely outcome.

Suitable companions are fish confident enough to hold their own and large enough to avoid being viewed as prey. On the reef, the Two Spot Wrasse is reef safe with caution: corals are typically left alone, but ornamental shrimp, crabs, small bivalves, sea urchins, and snails are all at genuine risk. The trade-off is a capable pest hunter, as this species readily consumes fireworms, pyramidellid snails, and flatworms, which makes it valuable in tanks without prized mobile invertebrates.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Two Spot Wrasse

  • Is the Two Spot Wrasse safe for a reef tank with ornamental shrimp and snails?
    Corals are generally left undisturbed, but this wrasse preys on many invertebrates, including ornamental shrimp, crabs, small bivalves, sea urchins, and snails. Keep it only where those animals are expendable.
  • How big of a tank does a Two Spot Wrasse need?
    House adults in at least 75 gallons with securely stacked live rock for hiding, a suitable substrate, and plenty of open water for swimming. A tight-fitting lid is essential, since these wrasses jump.
  • What should I feed a Two Spot Wrasse and how often?
    Provide varied meaty fare such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, small crustaceans, chopped seafood, and wrasse pellets, one to two times daily or in several smaller feedings. Live feed helps new arrivals begin eating.