The Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) is a spectacular addition to any marine aquarium, combining vibrant colouration, an active personality and excellent natural pest-control abilities. Featuring beautiful blue-green colouring with intricate orange, pink and turquoise stripes, this stunning wrasse is guaranteed to stand out in your reef tank.
Not only is the Melanurus Wrasse a beautiful fish, but it's also one of the most useful wrasses for a reef aquarium. Constantly patrolling the rockwork in search of food, it can help control unwanted pests such as flatworms, small bristleworms and pyramid snails. Its relatively peaceful temperament and hardy nature make it a popular choice for established marine aquariums.
Our Melanurus Wrasses are medium-sized specimens, making them a great option for hobbyists looking to introduce a colourful, active fish to their marine setup.
Key Features
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Stunning Colouration: Beautiful blue, green, orange and turquoise markings that become increasingly vibrant as the fish matures.
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Natural Pest Control: Actively hunts unwanted aquarium pests, including flatworms, small bristleworms and pyramid snails.
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Active & Entertaining: Constantly explores the aquarium, weaving through rockwork in search of food.
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Generally Peaceful: Typically compatible with a wide variety of community marine fish.
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Reef Safe With Caution: Generally leaves corals alone but may prey on small ornamental shrimp, snails and other invertebrates.
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Hardy Species: Adaptable and relatively straightforward to care for in a suitable established aquarium.
Melanurus Wrasse Care Guide
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Care Requirement
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Details
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Scientific Name
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Halichoeres melanurus
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Common Names
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Melanurus Wrasse, Hoeven's Wrasse
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Size Available
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Medium
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Maximum Size
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Approximately 12 cm
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Care Level
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Easy – Moderate
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Temperament
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Generally Peaceful
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Minimum Aquarium Size
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200–250 Litres
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Temperature
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24–27°C
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Salinity
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1.023–1.026 SG
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Diet
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Carnivore
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Reef Safe
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With Caution
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Origin
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Western Pacific
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Aquarium Requirements & Compatibility
Melanurus Wrasses thrive in established marine aquariums with plenty of live rock, open swimming space and a fine sand substrate.
A sand bed is essential for this species. Unlike many other marine fish, Melanurus Wrasses bury themselves beneath the sand at night to sleep and whenever they feel threatened. We recommend a soft, fine-grained sand bed at least 5 cm deep to accommodate this natural behaviour.
A secure aquarium lid is also highly recommended, as wrasses are well-known jumpers.
Although generally peaceful towards other fish, Melanurus Wrasses can become territorial towards similarly shaped wrasses. They are considered reef safe with caution, as they typically leave corals untouched but may hunt smaller ornamental shrimp, snails and other desirable invertebrates.
Feeding & Diet
Melanurus Wrasses are carnivores that enjoy a varied, protein-rich diet. Suitable foods include:
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Frozen marine food blends
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Naturally occurring small crustaceans and worms
Their constant hunting behaviour makes them particularly valuable in reef aquariums, where they may help keep certain pest populations under control.
Looking for a colourful marine fish that does more than just look good? The Melanurus Wrasse is a fantastic choice, delivering stunning colouration, endless activity and the added benefit of natural pest control.
