Halichoeres

Halichoeres chrysus

Randall, 1981

Canary Wrasse

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Eastern Indian Ocean: Christmas Islands, also Western Pacific Ocean: Southern Japan and south to New South Wales.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rubble slopes on reef edges and usually found at depths between 50 – 200 feet (15– 60 m) where it feeds mainly on crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Common in the trade with males and females overall yellow, with adult males having a black spot on the forward dorsal and females often with a black spot edged in yellow on the dorsal and possibly a tiny black spot on the caudal peduncle. Spots and their placement and number vary depending upon age and sex of the specimen.

Best 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. Those in this genus will not only rearrange bottom dwelling corals in its search for tasty bottom dwelling invertebrates, it may also consume snails, tubeworms, crabs, and ornamental shrimp.

It will also quickly burrow into the sand bed if frightened or for sleeping at night. This diving into the sand bed will cause clouds of sand particles to be dispensed into the water, and would cause various corals harm, therefore, those in this genus, depending upon their size, are not often recommended for reef aquariums.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine-based frozen or fresh foods, and should be fed twice daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Halichoeres

FYI: Upon first entering the aquarium may stay buried for days. Simply await its decision when to emerge. Once established, it will go to sleep under the sand and arise the next morning at almost the exact same time every day!

Generally peaceful as a juvenile, yet as it grows into adulthood, may pick on passive smaller tankmates.

The aquarium should have small pieces of rocks for the wrasse to ‘play’ with in its daily search for prey.

Can greatly stir bottom sandbeds creating large clouds of sand being dispensed in many directions.

One male per aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium