Oxycheilinus bimaculatus

(Valenciennes, 1840)

Twospot Maori Wrasse, Longjaw Wrasse

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Hawaiian and Marquesas Islands, north to Southern Japan and south to Vanuatu.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits outer reef slopes and deep lagoons and found among rubble and algae, and sometimes in seagrass beds and usually found at depths between 6 - 350 feet (3 - 105 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, where adults are reddish brown with white spots and blotches, and a dark blotch behind the pectoral fin. Males have a single elongated filament extending from the upper tail lobe.

Best maintained in fish-only aquariums having a fine substrate (0.5 – 2 mm) of at least 4 inches (10 cm) in depth and containing large quantities of live rock/rubble, as those in this genus will rearrange the bottom substrate in its search for tasty bottom dwelling invertebrates, as it will eat snails, tubeworms, sea stars, cucumbers, urchins, crabs, shrimp, and also smaller fishes.

As to diet, requires a meaty diet consisting of finely chopped clam, mussel, fish, and shrimp flesh, and/or other meaty type marine frozen foods and fed two to three times per day. Will also consume flake and pelletized foods.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Oxycheilinus

FYI: One per aquarium, and become quite aggressive.

Can jump out of uncovered aquariums.

Very Hardy.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Larger, active and moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5