Wrasse
A diverse group of fish with an equally wide range of characteristics. Some wrasse species are aggressive towards small fish and invertebrates, others are reef safe. Some are quite hardy, some typically die within weeks.
| Common name | Image | Taxonomy | Reef safe | Care Level | Description | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banana wrasse | Thalassoma lutescens | No | Easy | 700130000000000000030 cm (11.8 in) | ||
| Bird wrasse | Gomphosus varius | No | Easy | 700128000000000000028 cm (11.0 in) | ||
| Bluehead wrasse | Thalassoma bifasciatum | With Caution | Easy-moderate | 700128000000000000028 cm (11.0 in) | ||
| Carpenter's fairy wrasse | Paracheilinus carpenteri | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Moderate | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Cheeklined maori wrasse | Cheilinus diagrammus | No | Moderate | 700136000000000000036 cm (14.2 in) | ||
| Christmas wrasse | Thalassoma trilobatum | No | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | |||
| Cortez Rainbow wrasse | Thalassoma lucasanum | No | Moderate | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Dragon wrasse | Novaculichthys taeniourus | No | Moderate | 700130000000000000030 cm (11.8 in) | ||
| Eight line wrasse | Pseudocheilinus octotaenia | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Easy to moderate | |||
| Exquisite fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus exquisitus | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Difficult | 700110000000000000010 cm (3.9 in) | ||
| Fine-spotted fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus punctatus | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Difficult | 700110000000000000010 cm (3.9 in) | ||
| Flame wrasse | Cirrhilabrus jordani | Yes | Moderate | 700110000000000000010 cm (3.9 in) | ||
| Formosa wrasse | Coris formosa | No | Moderate | 700161000000000000061 cm (24.0 in) | ||
| Four line wrasse | Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Easy to moderate | |||
| Goldbar wrasse | Thalassoma hebraicum | With Caution | Moderate | 700123000000000000023 cm (9.1 in) | ||
| Pastel-green wrasse | Halichoeres chloropterus | With Caution | Moderate | 700120000000000000020 cm (7.9 in) | ||
| Greenback fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus scottorum | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Difficult | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Harlequin tusk | Choerodon fasciatus | Generally, yes, but may eat shrimps | Moderate | |||
| Hoeven's wrasse | Halichoeres melanurus | With Caution | Easy | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | ||
| Jansen saddle wrasse | Thalassoma jansenii | No | Easy | 700120000000000000020 cm (7.9 in) | ||
| Labout's fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus laboutei | Yes | Easy | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Leopard wrasse | Macropharyngodon meleagris | Yes | Expert | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Lineatus fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus lineatus | Yes | Easy | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | ||
| Longfin fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis | Yes | Easy | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Lyretail wrasse/Moon wrasse | Thalassoma lunare | No | Moderate | 700125000000000000025 cm (9.8 in) | ||
| Marble wrasse | Halichoeres hortulanus | No | Easy-moderate | 700128000000000000028 cm (11.0 in) | ||
| McCosker's flasher wrasse | Paracheilinus mccoskeri | Yes | Easy | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Multicolor lubbock's wrasse | Cirrhilabrus lubbocki | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Easy | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Multicolor velvet wrasse | Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Moderate | |||
| Mystery wrasse | Pseudocheilinus ocellatus | Yes | Easy | |||
| Orange-back fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis | Yes | Easy | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | ||
| Pinkface wrasse | Thalassoma quinquevittatum | With Caution | Easy | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Potter's wrasse | Macropharyngodon geoffroyi | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Difficult | |||
| Red coris wrasse | Coris gaimard | No | Easy | 700136000000000000036 cm (14.2 in) | ||
| Red-head fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus solorensis | Yes; feeds on tiny organisms | Difficult | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | ||
| Red velvet wrasse | Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis | Yes | Easy | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Scarlet pin stripe wrasse | Pseudocheilinus evanidus | Yes | Moderate | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Six line wrasse | Pseudocheilinus hexataenia | Yes | Easy to moderate | Small pink fish with six purple horizontal lines. | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | |
| Radiant wrasse | Halichoeres iridis | Yes | Easy | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Rhomboid fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis | Yes | Moderate | Golden body with purple horizontal stripes on head. | 13 cm (5.1 in) | |
| Whip fin fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus filamentosus | Yes | Easy | 70009000000000000009 cm (3.5 in) | ||
| Yellow wrasse | Halichoeres chrysus | Yes | With Caution | Yellow body with three or occasionally four black dots on dorsal fins. Require sand bed for sleeping. | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | |
| Yellow & purple wrasse | Halichoeres trispilus | Yes | With Caution | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | ||
| Yellowband wrasse | Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus | Yes | Moderate | 700113000000000000013 cm (5.1 in) | ||
| Yellow fin fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis | Yes | Moderate | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | ||
| Yellow-flanked fairy wrasse | Cirrhilabrus lyukyuensis | Yes | Moderate | 700110000000000000010 cm (3.9 in) |
Read more about this topic: List Of Marine Aquarium Fish Species