Puddingwife Wrasse Care Guide
Halichoeres radiatus is a large western Atlantic reef wrasse reaching about 51 cm that feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates and needs a very large tank.
Overview
Halichoeres radiatus, the puddingwife wrasse, is a marine wrasse of the family Labridae described by Linnaeus in 1758. It is one of the largest species in the genus and is native to the western Atlantic. Adults are blue-green with a yellow caudal-fin margin and pale dorsal bars.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Halichoeres
- Scientific name: Halichoeres radiatus
- Described by Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
The species ranges in the western Atlantic from North Carolina and Bermuda through the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico to oceanic islands off Brazil. Adults occupy deeper patch and seaward reefs to about 55 m, while juveniles and subadults stay in shallow coral reefs at 1-5 m. FishBase gives a depth range of about 2 to 55 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 600 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH: 8-12
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Maximum size: up to about 51 cm total length, commonly to 40 cm (FishBase)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Because of its large adult size, this wrasse requires a very large aquarium with an open sand bed for burrowing.
Diet
The puddingwife is a carnivore feeding on molluscs, sea urchins, crustaceans and brittle stars. In aquaria it accepts meaty frozen and prepared marine foods.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish but its size and appetite for invertebrates make it suited only to large systems with robust tankmates. Small ornamental shrimp and snails are at risk.
Reef compatibility
The species does not eat corals but will prey on a wide range of mobile invertebrates, so it is best regarded as reef cautious in tanks with prized clean-up crew or ornamental inverts.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2008). Reports of ciguatera poisoning are documented for this species.