Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) Care Guide
An excellent reef utility wrasse with vibrant blue-green body and orange-red lines. Highly valued for eating bristle worms, flatworms, pyramidellid snails, and other pests.
Overview
Halichoeres melanurus is a species in the family Labridae. An excellent reef utility wrasse with vibrant blue-green body and orange-red lines. Highly valued for eating bristle worms, flatworms, pyramidellid snails, and other pests. Hardy, affordable, and one of the best pest control fish for reef aquariums.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Halichoeres
- Scientific name: Halichoeres melanurus
- Other names: Tail Spot Wrasse, Hoeven's Wrasse
- Origin: Indo-Pacific
Habitat
Distributed across the western Pacific from Indonesia and the Philippines east to Samoa and from southern Japan to the Great Barrier Reef. Inhabits clear lagoons and seaward reefs at depths of 1-15 m, foraging over mixed coral-rubble bottoms. Used in reef aquariums to control flatworms and small bristleworms.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Adult size: 10-12 cm
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Difficulty: beginner
Diet
Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: middle
- Compatible tank mates: Clownfish, Tangs, Firefish Goby, Royal Gramma
- Avoid with: Other Halichoeres Wrasses
Reef compatibility
Generally classified as reef-safe with caution: may opportunistically pick at small ornamental shrimps, sessile invertebrates or, in some individuals, polyps. Suitability depends on the specific reef stock.
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced