Yellowtail Coris Care Guide
Coris gaimard is an Indo-Pacific wrasse; vivid orange juveniles transform into blue-green adults with a yellow tail. A sand-burying sifter of invertebrates.
Overview
The yellowtail coris (Coris gaimard) is a wrasse of the family Labridae from the Indo-Pacific. Juveniles are bright red-orange with white spots; adults turn blue-green with a pink face and a bright yellow tail and bear blue speckling. Maximum length is about 40 cm, though most do not exceed 20 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Coris
- Scientific name: Coris gaimard
- Described by Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Habitat
Coris gaimard inhabits tropical waters of the central Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, from Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to the Society Islands and Hawaii, and from Japan to Australia. It favours areas mixing sand patches, rubble and coral at depths of about 1 to 50 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Maximum size: up to 40 cm
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
- Deep sand bed for burying
Diet
It is carnivorous, sifting sand and rubble for benthic invertebrates. In the aquarium it accepts meaty foods such as mysis and brine shrimp.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive, diurnal wrasse that swims in the middle column and buries in sand to rest. It suits robust tank mates such as tangs and cardinalfish, and a deep sand bed is required; aggressive triggerfish should be avoided.
Reef compatibility
Coris gaimard preys on invertebrates and grows large, so it is generally considered unsafe with ornamental shrimp, snails and other small invertebrates in reef systems. Specific gravity 1.024-1.026, carbonate hardness 8-12 dKH.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List assesses Coris gaimard as Least Concern. It is popular in the aquarium trade and in public aquaria.