Adorned Wrasse

Halichoeres cosmetus

Also known as Orange-Lined Wrasse, Adorned Coris Wrasse, Cosmetus Wrasse

SaltwaterFish

Adorned Wrasse (Halichoeres cosmetus) — Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 50 gal (190 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Reef safe: Reef safe with caution
Origin: Ranges across the Indian Ocean from the East African coast and the Maldives south to KwaZulu-Natal, over rubble near reefs.
Family: Labridae

Overview

A 190 litre or larger tank with a soft sand bed and a secure lid suits it, kept at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It leaves corals alone but is reef safe with caution, since it may eat ornamental shrimp, small snails, and fan worms. Feed mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and other meaty foods. It is peaceful and active, and it helps control pest bristleworms and small snails.

In the wild

The adorned wrasse works over rubble and sand at the base of reefs, picking small invertebrates from the substrate. It has orange and green stripes with an eyespot on the dorsal fin. Like other Halichoeres wrasses it dives into the sand to sleep and to escape threats. A fine sand bed a few centimetres deep is essential.

Good to know

Halichoeres cosmetus is an Indian Ocean member of the wrasse family Labridae. Sleeping buried in sand is a genus trait that also helps it avoid predators. It changes sex from female to male as it matures.