Adorned Wrasse

• Juveniles/Females: Feature a body that can be bluish-green to light blue with six to seven bright orange horizontal stripes. They have distinct black “eye” spots (ocelli) on the dorsal fin, which help deter predators.
• Males: Are often more colorful, with the blue and green base color intensifying, and the “eye” spots fading as they mature

Like many wrasse species, they are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning all individuals are born female and can change sex to male later in life.

Habitat and Behavior

In the wild, the adorned wrasse is a reef-associated species, found in mixed coral, rubble, and sandy areas of shallow lagoons and outer slopes at depths of 2 to 31 meters (about 6 to 100 feet). They are active, diurnal (daytime) swimmers that spend most of their time foraging low to the bottom. A notable behavior is their tendency to bury themselves in the sand at night or when startled. For this reason, a deep, soft sandy substrate is essential if kept in an aquarium.

Diet

The adorned wrasse is a carnivore, primarily feeding on small benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans, fireworms, tubeworms, and snails. In a home aquarium, they should be offered a varied diet of meaty foods like vitamin-enriched frozen mysis shrimp and brine shrimp, as well as high-quality marine flakes and pellets. Frequent, small feedings throughout the day are recommended due to their high metabolism. However, the Adorned Wrasse typically will not harm sessile invertebrates including soft or stony corals.

Aquarium Compatibility

The adorned wrasse is generally peaceful, but can be territorial toward other wrasses or similar-looking fish. It is considered “reef-safe with caution” because it may eat desirable ornamental invertebrates like fan worms and shrimp. A minimum 50 gal tank with tight-fitting lid on the aquarium is crucial, as they are known to jump when startled.

In the wild, the Adorned Wrasse is distributed throughout the Indian Ocean and south to Natal, South Africa. The Adorned Wrasse is a reef-associated species, common on shallow coral and rocky reefs where males are typically found solitary while juvenile and female Adorned Wrasses form small loose groups.