Adorned wrasse
Halichoeres cosmetus
Also known as Orange-Lined Wrasse, Adorned Coris Wrasse, Cosmetus Wrasse
SaltwaterFish
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
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Labridae
- Origin
- Ranges across the Indian Ocean from the East African coast and the Maldives south to KwaZulu-Natal, over rubble near reefs.
Overview
The adorned wrasse is a peaceful wrasse for the sandy bottom of a saltwater tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The adorned wrasse can vanish into the sand in an instant when startled. It stays buried until it feels safe again.
Caring for the adorned wrasse
Give an adorned wrasse at least 50 gal (190 L) and a secure lid. A soft, fine sand bed a few centimeters deep is essential.
Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed mysis, enriched brine shrimp and other meaty foods.
The adorned wrasse is peaceful, active and safe with community fish. It leaves corals alone and helps control pest bristleworms and small snails. It is only reef safe with caution, though, since it may eat ornamental shrimp, small snails and fan worms.
Good to know
Halichoeres cosmetus is an Indian Ocean member of the wrasse family Labridae. It has orange and green stripes, with an eyespot on the dorsal fin. Sleeping buried in sand is a trait of its genus, and it also helps the fish avoid predators. It changes sex from female to male as it matures, and it also goes by orange-lined wrasse.
In the wild
The adorned wrasse ranges across the Indian Ocean, from the East African coast and the Maldives south to KwaZulu-Natal. It works over rubble and sand at the base of reefs, picking small invertebrates from the substrate.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The adorned wrasse is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Coral beauty angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Cinnamon clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus
Saltwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Clark's clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
Saltwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Fisher's angelfish
Centropyge fisheri
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Sunburst anthias
Serranocirrhitus latus
Saltwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Citron clown goby
Gobiodon citrinus
Saltwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an adorned wrasse need?
An adorned wrasse needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an adorned wrasse need?
An adorned wrasse is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does an adorned wrasse eat?
An adorned wrasse eats mysis, enriched brine shrimp and other meaty foods. It also picks off pest bristleworms and small snails, and it may eat ornamental shrimp and fan worms.
How big does an adorned wrasse get?
An adult adorned wrasse reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Related species
5.5 in (14 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Melanurus wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
5.5 in (14 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)
4.5 in (11.5 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Radiant wrasse
Halichoeres iridis
4.5 in (11.5 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Christmas wrasse
Halichoeres ornatissimus
5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Yellow coris wrasse
Halichoeres chrysus
4.7 in (12 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Divided leopard wrasse
Macropharyngodon bipartitus
5.1 in (13 cm) · 55 gal (208 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Leopard wrasse
Macropharyngodon meleagris
5.9 in (15 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)