Dragon wrasse
Novaculichthys taeniourus
Also known as Rockmover Wrasse, Reindeer Wrasse, Olive-Scribbled Wrasse, Carpet Wrasse
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Not reef safe
- Family
- Labridae
- Origin
- Widespread across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to the tropical eastern Pacific, over open sand and rubble flats near reefs.
Overview
The dragon wrasse is an aggressive, digging wrasse for the sand of a big saltwater tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
The dragon wrasse's other common name, rockmover, comes from its habit of turning over stones far larger than its own head. It flips them to reach buried worms and crustaceans.
Caring for the dragon wrasse
Give the dragon wrasse at least 106 gal (400 L), with open bottom space and a sand bed at least 5 cm deep. It rearranges the aquascape, shoving rock and coral around as it forages. It also jumps, so fit a tight lid.
Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed meaty foods such as mysis, chopped clam and krill.
The dragon wrasse is aggressive and not reef safe, since it eats shrimp, snails, crabs and small clams. Keep only one per tank. House it only with bold tank mates such as tangs, triggers and larger angels.
Good to know
Novaculichthys taeniourus is the only species in its genus, and it belongs to the wrasse family Labridae. Like most wrasses, it starts life as a female and can change sex to male. Juveniles and adults look so different that they were once thought to be separate species.
In the wild
The dragon wrasse is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the tropical eastern Pacific. It lives over open sand, rubble and broken coral near reefs. Juveniles drift near the bottom with a rocking, side to side motion that mimics a loose piece of algae. Adults claim a stretch of reef flat and dig a sand burrow, where they sleep at night.
Common questions
What size tank does a dragon wrasse need?
A dragon wrasse needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a dragon wrasse need?
A dragon wrasse is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a dragon wrasse eat?
A dragon wrasse eats meaty foods such as mysis, chopped clam and krill. In the tank it will also eat shrimp, snails, crabs and small clams.
How big does a dragon wrasse get?
An adult dragon wrasse reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
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