Care Level : Moderate
Temperament : Semi-aggressive
Color : Black, Brown, Green, Red
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 : 6"
Origin : Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans
Family : Labridae
Minimum Tank Size : 70 gallons
Emerald Wrasse (Novaculichthys Macrolepidotus), sometimes known as the Sea Grass Wrasse, is a helpful pest controller with big personality and abundant beauty.
Often seen in shades of light to dark green, brownish-red to even black, the Sea Grass Wrasse's blade-like body allows it to disappear into the sea grass beds and sandy algal flats of lagoons and mangrove channels it calls home. They're even known to swim like free-floating, swaying algae in order to camouflage themselves from predators.
The Sea Grass Wrasse should reside in a 70 gallon or larger aquarium with a 2-4 inch sandy bottom in which it can submerge itself since it sleeps in the sand. They feel most secure when there is plenty of live rock to hide in, as well as open space for swimming. The aquarium should also have a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out.In an aquarium it should be kept with such algae as Caulerpa.
The Emerald Wrasse can be aggressive toward smaller more docile fishes but it will likely be bullied by larger aggressive species. It is possible to keep it with fish that are more aggressive or larger than it actually is, but should be placed in a tank with inactive fish when young. They are coral safe, but larger individuals may attack small invertebrates such as shrimp, snails, urchins, worms, bivalves and serpent stars.
If you're looking for a natural way to control flatworms, pyramid snails, montipora eating nudibranches, and more, the mild-mannered Sea Grass Wrasse has the crushing teeth and carnivorous appetite for the task.
They should be fed two to three times a day plenty of high quality meaty items, frozen Mysis shrimp, krill, chopped seafood, marine algae and Spirulina.
Size: Small 1-1/2" to 2"; Medium 2" to 3"; Large 3" to 4-1/2"
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