Argus Wrasse Care Guide
Halichoeres argus is a small Indo-Pacific reef wrasse with an eye-spotted ('argus') pattern, a carnivorous, sand-diving species kept in marine aquaria.
Overview
Halichoeres argus, the argus wrasse, is a small marine wrasse of the Indo-West Pacific. It has an olive body marked with an eye-spotted pattern that gives rise to the name argus. It is a diurnal, sand-associated reef fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Subfamily: Julidinae
- Genus: Halichoeres
- Scientific name: Halichoeres argus
Habitat
According to FishBase the species ranges across the Indo-West Pacific from Sri Lanka to Fiji and Tonga, north to Taiwan and south to northern Australia. It is a reef-associated marine fish recorded at depths of about 1-15 m, occurring on shallow coastal reefs, seagrass flats, and algae-rocky reef flats and lagoons.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L (66 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 °dKH
- Substrate: sand bed (wrasses bury at night)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
A carnivore; FishBase lists a trophic level of about 3.4. In the aquarium it takes meaty marine foods. Wrasses of this genus hunt small invertebrates over and within the substrate.
Compatibility
A peaceful, bottom-oriented wrasse that is considered reef-safe and is often kept to help control pest invertebrates. It is gregarious and typically found in groups in the wild; very aggressive damsels and predatory fish make poor tankmates.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009).