Range: Southwest Pacific Ocean: Australia and New Zealand

Size: Up to 12 in (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabit coastal lagoons

General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 72 - 83°F (22 - 28°C) and has a natural diet of zooplankton and benthic invertebrate. Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, black worms and other meaty type frozen foods with two or three feedings per day. May be very difficult to get feeding in the beginning, and if so, try some live foods. Should only be kept in aquaria with a deep sandbed as they bury themselves at night, and when so, may disturb bottom dwelling corals such as brain corals. Provide a fine-grained substrate of at least 4 inches (10 cm) in depth. These wrasses should be considered marginal reef or fish-only aquarium fishes, as they can be difficult to maintain for any length of time. Timid and rarely seen in the trade. One male per tank.

Aquarium Suitability: * * *