Humphead Wrasse Care Guide
Cheilinus undulatus is the largest living wrasse, reaching over 2 m. It is CITES II listed and IUCN Endangered, suitable only for very large public aquaria.
Overview
The humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), also called the Napoleon wrasse, is the largest member of the family Labridae. It is distinguished by thick lips, two black lines behind each eye and a pronounced forehead hump in large adults. Maximum reported size is around 229 cm and 191 kg, though average length is closer to 60 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Cheilinus
- Scientific name: Cheilinus undulatus
- Described by Rüppell, 1835
Habitat
The species is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea coast of Africa and the Indian and Pacific oceans. It lives on coral reefs from shallow sandy areas used by juveniles to deep reef slopes, at depths of roughly 2 to 60 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 10000 L (public aquaria only)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Maximum size: up to ~229 cm
- Lifespan: around 30 years in the wild
Diet
Cheilinus undulatus is carnivorous and feeds on invertebrates including molluscs, sea urchins, crustaceans and the crown-of-thorns starfish, a predator of corals. Its ability to consume armoured prey makes it ecologically valuable on reefs.
Compatibility
Adults are solitary or live in pairs or small groups and are semi-aggressive. The species changes sex at around nine years of age and reaches sexual maturity at five to seven years. Its enormous adult size makes it impractical for private aquaria.
Reef compatibility
Although it does not eat corals, the humphead wrasse consumes large invertebrates and grows far too large for any home reef. It is appropriate only for very large public aquarium systems. Specific gravity 1.024-1.026, carbonate hardness 8-12 dKH.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List classifies Cheilinus undulatus as Endangered, and it is listed on CITES Appendix II. The main threat is overfishing for the live reef food-fish trade.