Halichoeres

Halichoeres leucurus

(Walbaum, 1792)

Greyhead Wrasse

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines, New Guinea, and Palau in Micronesia.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy and rubble areas in coral rich lagoons and usually found at depths between 3 – 50 feet (1–15 m) where it feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with the average male having a somewhat greyish head and greenish body with bluish lines from the snout to just past the gill plate, and orange spots on the body. Females tend to be overall light green with bluish lines from the snout to the caudal peduncle, and have two black eyespots edged in blue, one on the dorsal, and one on the caudal peduncle. Colors vary depending upon the age of the specimen, and breeding timeframes.

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, as it grows into adulthood may also eat smaller fishes by first bashing them against hard objects, then consuming the pieces. It may also consume snails, tubeworms, crabs, and shrimp, also bashing them, if needed, to be consumed.

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!

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: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Larger, active and moderately aggressive