Pseudodax moluccanus

(Valenciennes, 1840)

Chiseltooth Wrasse

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to South Africa, east to Society, Marquesan, and Tuamotu Islands, and north to Southern Japan.

Size: 12 inches (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits channels and areas near caves in seaward reefs and usually found at depths between 10 – 150 feet (3 – 45 m) where it feeds on small benthic invertebrates, mainly small snails, worms, and shrimp.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with juveniles having a blackish body with two lengthwise blue lines, and adults somewhat green or reddish bodies with red edged scales, white bar on the caudal peduncle, and a blue tail. Its face is also somewhat bluish, with dark blue lines on the lower jaw.

Best maintained in fish-only aquariums having a fine sand bed, (0.5 – 2.0 mm) and at least 4 inches deep (for juveniles), to burrow into if frightened or for sleeping at night. This diving into the sand bed will cause clouds of sand particles to be dispensed into the water, and would cause various corals harm, therefore, this only species in this genus, is not recommended for reef aquariums.

Preferable tankmates are those that are larger and moderately aggressive, e.g., dottybacks and some damsels.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine-based frozen for fresh foods, and should be fed twice daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Pseudodax

FYI: The aquarium should have small pieces of rocks for the wrasse to 'play' with in its daily search for prey.

Can greatly stir bottom sandbeds creating large clouds of sand being dispensed in many directions.

Smaller tankmates are at risk of being attacked or harassed as this species grows to adulthood.

One per aquarium.

If harassed or frightened, may jump out of uncovered aquariums.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Larger, active and moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5