Red Shoulder Wrasse (Stethojulis Bandanensis)

Species Name : Stethojulis Bandanensis

Care Level : Expert Only

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Green, Brown, Red, Blue,Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Coral Safe : Yes

Fish Safe : With caution

Invertebrate Safe : With caution

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

Max. Size : 6 inches

Origin : Indo-West Pacific 

Family :  Labridae

The Red Shoulder Wrasse (Stethojulis Bandanensis), of the order of Perciformes and family Labridae is commonly known as the Orange-Axil Wrasse, Red-spot Rainbowfish, or Red-Spot Wrasse. 

Red Shoulder Wrasse are very beautiful when in full colour, but when young their colouring is more matte. Males (terminal phase) are olive-brown above, with a paler lower body separated by a narrow blue stripe through the pectoral-fin base running onto the tail, a narrow blue stripe from the eye along the dorsal-fin base and upper part of the tail, two blue stripes on the anterior body, blue stripes on the head, and a yellow patch on cheek. Females (initial phase) are greyish with small white spots densely covering the upper body, a light patch on each scale on the lower part of the body giving a cross-hatched pattern, a reddish spot above the pectoral-fin base and two small ocelli in the middle of the tail base. Juvenile have small ocelli on the rear of the dorsal fin and tail base.

A 100 gallon aquarium or larger is necessary to provide plenty of swimming room. This species and those in this genus ‘can’ be maintained in fish-only aquariums having a fine sand bed, (0.5 – 2.0 mm) and at least 4 inches deep, along with several rocky crevices to hunt and also open swimming areas. It quickly burrows into the sand if frightened or sleeping at night.

This species can change gender from female to male. When a male is needed, a female changes sex and takes on the role.

They must not be kept with aggressive fish, as this will make their acclimatization problematic. Members of this genus not only rearrange bottom corals in search of delicious bottom invertebrates, but also eat smaller fish, snails, tube worms, starfish, cucumbers, urchins, crabs and shrimp they can find.

Without available natural food it is essential to have an automatic feeders to provide regular, daily food of a varied nature. Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine-based frozen or fresh foods, and should be fed numerous times daily. This species thrives best when there is a sufficiently large amount of micro life (copepods, amphipods or similar) in the aquarium, so that the it can always find their own food.