Red Breasted Maori Wrasse

The Red Breasted Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is a bold, substantial marine wrasse recognized by its contrasting vertical bands and vivid reddish-orange coloration across the head, chest, and forward portion of the body. Adults typically develop a dark brown to nearly black base color crossed by broad pale bands, with orange-red facial markings, scattered reddish spots, and a strongly contrasting tail. Large mature males develop a heavier head and jaw profile, giving them an especially commanding appearance.

Native to the Indo-Pacific, this species ranges from East Africa and the western Indian Ocean across Southeast Asia and the Pacific to Samoa and Tonga, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. It inhabits protected coastal, lagoon, and seaward reefs with mixtures of coral, sand, and rubble, where it actively searches for mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, and other hard-shelled prey.

Reaching approximately 14–16 inches as an adult, the Red Breasted Maori Wrasse requires a large saltwater aquarium with substantial swimming room, robust rockwork, and appropriately sized tankmates. It generally does not target healthy coral tissue, but its powerful jaws and natural predatory behavior make ornamental invertebrates poor companions.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Safe: With Caution
Region: Indo-Pacific
Scientific Name: Cheilinus fasciatus

Tank Requirements

Provide a large aquarium with generous open swimming space and securely arranged rockwork. Adults are powerful, active fish and need enough horizontal room to cruise comfortably and turn without constantly contacting the aquascape.

Include large caves, ledges, overhangs, and protected resting areas while keeping substantial open swimming lanes. A sand or mixed sand-and-rubble substrate is appropriate and reflects the species' natural reef habitat, although a deep sand bed is not required for sleeping.

Rock structures and coral placements should be firmly secured. A mature Maori Wrasse may investigate beneath rocks, move loose shells or rubble, and disturb unsecured objects while searching for food.

Strong biological filtration, efficient protein skimming, good oxygenation, and consistent maintenance are recommended. A secure aquarium cover is also advisable for any large, active wrasse.

Diet and Feeding

The Red Breasted Maori Wrasse is a carnivore with strong jaws adapted for feeding on hard-shelled benthic prey. Its natural diet consists largely of mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, and other reef-associated invertebrates.

Offer a varied captive diet including shrimp, krill, clam, mussel, squid, scallop, crab meat, and appropriately sized pieces of marine seafood. Foods containing some shell material can encourage natural crushing and biting behavior.

High-quality sinking carnivore pellets and frozen marine preparations can also be incorporated once readily accepted.

Feed juveniles one to two times daily. Larger established adults can receive appropriately portioned meals once daily or several substantial meals per week depending on body condition and overall feeding routine.

Temperament and Tankmates

The Red Breasted Maori Wrasse is a substantial, increasingly assertive fish that is best maintained with robust tankmates of appropriate size. Adults may become territorial and can easily intimidate small, timid, or slow-moving species.

Suitable companions may include larger tangs, rabbitfish, angelfish, triggerfish, groupers, large butterflyfish, and other substantial marine fish capable of competing confidently at feeding time.

Small fish should be selected cautiously around a mature specimen. Although its natural diet focuses heavily on hard-shelled invertebrates, a large wrasse may opportunistically investigate smaller animals.

A single specimen is generally recommended. Other large Cheilinus wrasses or similarly shaped territorial species may provoke aggression, particularly in confined aquariums.

Reef Compatibility

Reef Safe: With Caution.

The Red Breasted Maori Wrasse does not primarily consume coral tissue and may coexist with established corals in a sufficiently large aquarium. Its main reef compatibility concern is predation on ornamental invertebrates.

Shrimp, crabs, hermit crabs, snails, clams, sea urchins, brittle stars, and other hard-shelled or benthic invertebrates should be considered potential prey. Even relatively large specimens may eventually be investigated as the wrasse matures.

Large adults may also disturb unsecured coral frags, shells, rubble, and loose rockwork while foraging. Corals should therefore be firmly mounted, and valuable clean-up crew animals should not be considered safe.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Maintain stable water chemistry, strong oxygenation, and effective filtration. Consistency is more important than maintaining one exact value within these ranges.

Common Considerations

• Reaches approximately 14–16 inches and requires substantial swimming room as an adult.

• Develops powerful jaws capable of crushing mollusks, crustaceans, and other hard-shelled prey.

• Ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, clams, sea urchins, and similar invertebrates are at significant risk.

• Large mature males develop a heavier jaw and more pronounced adult coloration.

• May move loose shells, rubble, rock, or unsecured coral frags while actively searching for food.