Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) Care Guide
A bright canary-yellow wrasse that is one of the best beginner marine wrasses. Hardy, peaceful, and reef-safe. Buries itself in sand to sleep at night and when stressed.
Overview
Halichoeres chrysus is a species in the family Labridae. A bright canary-yellow wrasse that is one of the best beginner marine wrasses. Hardy, peaceful, and reef-safe. Buries itself in sand to sleep at night and when stressed. Excellent at hunting flatworms and small pests in reef tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Halichoeres
- Scientific name: Halichoeres chrysus
- Other names: Golden Wrasse, Canary Wrasse
- Origin: Indo-Pacific
Habitat
Distributed across the western and central Pacific from Indonesia and the Philippines east to the Marshall Islands, on rubble and sand patches at the base of coral reefs at depths of 2-60 m. Picks small invertebrates from the substrate and dives into the sand to sleep and escape predators.
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: 8-12 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, Firefish Goby, Royal Gramma, Tangs
- Avoid with: Other Small Wrasses, Aggressive Fish
Reef compatibility
Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced