Adult Red Coris Wrasse
Scientific Name: Coris gaimard
Also Known As: Clown Wrasse, Red Labrid, Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Care Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Safe: No – not safe with most invertebrates
Minimum Aquarium Size: Approx. 475L+
Maximum Size: Approx. 20–30cm
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Hawaii & Red Sea
The Adult Red Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard) is a spectacular large marine wrasse known for the dramatic transformation it undergoes from juvenile to adulthood.
Juveniles are bright orange-red with contrasting white markings edged in black, while adults develop a completely different appearance with a blue-speckled body, yellow and blue fins, and an orange face marked with vivid green lines.
For aquarists looking for a bold, highly active feature fish, a mature Red Coris Wrasse is hard to miss.
Aquarium Care
Adult Red Coris Wrasses require a large marine aquarium with plenty of swimming space, secure rockwork and a suitable sand bed.
EMA recommends a minimum aquarium size of approximately 125 gallons, or around 475 litres.
A sandy substrate is essential because Red Coris Wrasses naturally bury themselves at night and when frightened.
Avoid coarse substrates such as crushed coral. EMA specifically warns that these wrasses have poor survival rates when kept without an appropriate soft sand bed.
As they mature, they become powerful and inquisitive fish and may move loose rocks, shells and unsecured aquarium décor while searching for food.
Feeding
The Adult Red Coris Wrasse is carnivorous and should be provided with a varied diet of high-quality meaty marine foods.
Suitable foods include:
EMA recommends vitamin-enriched mysis and brine shrimp alongside other meaty foods and quality marine pellets and flakes.
Reef Compatibility
Adult Red Coris Wrasses are not considered reef safe with invertebrates.
As they mature they may prey on or disturb:
They can also overturn unsecured objects while hunting through the aquarium.
While they do not generally target corals as food, their size and behaviour mean they are much better suited to a large fish-only or carefully planned fish-with-live-rock system than a delicate reef aquarium.
Juvenile to Adult Transformation
One of the most interesting features of the Red Coris Wrasse is its dramatic colour change.
Young fish have a bright orange-red body with large white markings, while adults develop an intricate mixture of blue, green, yellow, orange and red.
The difference is so dramatic that juvenile and adult Red Coris Wrasses can easily look like completely different species.
Why We Like Them
The Adult Red Coris Wrasse is an impressive feature fish for a large marine aquarium.
They're active, intelligent-looking, colourful and constantly exploring, with adult colouration that stands out against virtually any aquascape.
They aren't suitable for every setup, particularly small reef aquariums or systems containing valuable invertebrates, but in the right large marine aquarium they're an exceptional fish.
