Christmas Wrasse

Looks how to spot one

Slender wrasse

A small, slim wrasse in festive colours: males have reddish stripes over a green and orange body with a U-shaped mark near the tail, while females carry eye-spots on the dorsal fin. Males grow larger than females.31

Personality what they are like

Peaceful and easy-going with other fish.3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Active by day and needs a sandy bottom to shelter in.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Feed frozen mysis and brine shrimp along with good marine foods. It may help with pest snails and fireworms but can also eat feather dusters and small shrimp.3

Home where they are happiest

Minimum about 50 US gallons (189 L) with a sandy substrate. Saltwater at about 22 to 26 °C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Wild fish usually live on outer reef slopes at 1 to 24 m.31

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Carnivore. Eats small invertebrates; in aquariums offer meaty frozen foods.3

Company who they like around

Usually seen alone in the wild and pairs up to breed.1

The story where it all began

For years these fish were filed under Halichoeres ornatissimus. In 2009 Randall and Rocha showed with genetics that the western Pacific fish were a separate species, leaving H. ornatissimus to Hawaii.21

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 2009)1