Broomtail Wrasse (Cheilinus Lunulatus) Red Sea

Care Level : Moderate

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Brown, Red, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : With Caution

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 1' 4"

Origin : Red Sea

Family : Labridae

Minimum Tank Size : 180 gallons

The Broomtail Wrasse (Cheilinus Lunulatus) is a species of wrasse native to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Broomtail Wrasse can reach an average length of about 35 cm (14 in), with a maximum of 50 cm (20 in) in males. In adults, the head is large and bright green, with small spots. The lips are large and blue. The pectoral fins are yellow, while the abdominal, the anal, and caudal fins are dark blue. The body is yellow-green in the middle and dark purple in the other part. Close to the operculum is a characteristic bright-yellow marking on a black background. It has a long fringed caudal fin, resembling an old broom (hence the common name). 

Best maintained in large fish-only aquariums (180 gallons), which should provide hiding places and lots of open swimming area. The Broomtail Wrasse is commonly found roaming alone in lagoons and inner reefs, along reef edges and rubble piles, and can often be seen resting on the sea bed.

Will disturb sandbeds by blowing jets of water into it to find buried prey. They are known to move sand around in search of food and will eat hard shell inverts and sometimes small fish. Will eat snails, tubeworms, ornamental shrimps, crabs, brittle stars, sea stars and urchins.

It will eat a varied carnivorous diet multiple times daily. He consumes a large amount of food at one time and may not eat again for several days. In terms of diet, foods such as sea fish and crustacean meat, shellfish and other sea meat products should make up the majority of their diet, enriched and cut into small pieces.

 Size: Small: 2" to 3"; Medium: 3" to 5"; Large: 5" to 7"; XLarge: 7" or larger.