Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
Fish in the family Labridae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Melanurus Wrasse is a small, slender-bodied wrasse with an elongated profile. Adults display a distinctive bi-color pattern with the anterior body (head and front half) blue to blue-green and the posterior body and tail vibrant yellow or orange-yellow, creating a sharp color transition. Juveniles often show different coloration patterns and may exhibit more muted colors.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet of high-quality carnivorous foods including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, small marine fish, and quality sinking pellets. Offer food 1-2 times daily in appropriate portions. They will pick at copepods and small crustaceans naturally present in the aquarium.
Difficulty and care for the Melanurus Wrasse
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Ich, marine velvet, parasitic infections, stress-related diseases
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including areas from the Red Sea through East Africa to the central Pacific, with populations in Hawaii and other tropical Indo-Pacific coral reef systems.
Log Melanurus Wrasse in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Melanurus Wrasse alongside everything else in your reef.
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