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Melanurus wrasse

Halichoeres melanurus

Also known as Tailspot Wrasse, Hoeven's Wrasse, Neon Wrasse

SaltwaterFish

Melanurus wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
Stickpen · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
5.5 in
14 cm
Minimum tank
100 gal
380 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Labridae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs, from Indonesia to Micronesia and Japan

Overview

The Melanurus wrasse is a peaceful, reef-safe wrasse that keeps reef pests in check. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

A Melanurus wrasse vanishes into the sand as soon as it is startled. In its first day or two in a new tank, it can look like it has disappeared entirely. It has simply buried itself while it settles in, and it resumes normal foraging once it feels safe enough to resurface.

Caring for the Melanurus wrasse

A Melanurus wrasse is a constant, active swimmer, so plan for at least 100 gal (380 L) once it is full grown. Juveniles can start out in smaller systems. It jumps readily, so fit a secure, tight lid.

Lay a fine, soft sand bed at least 5 to 7.5 cm deep. It buries itself in the sand to sleep and whenever it feels threatened. Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed a varied mix of mysis, brine shrimp and marine pellet or flake food.

The Melanurus wrasse is peaceful with other fish and completely reef safe. It hunts pyramidellid snails, flatworms and bristleworms that prey on corals and clams, which makes it one of the more useful pest-control wrasses. Keep one per tank, since adult males become territorial toward their own species and will harass a second Melanurus added later. Males that reach the terminal phase show a blue-green body crossed with pink or yellow stripes.

Good to know

Halichoeres melanurus is a protogynous hermaphrodite that matures first as a female or initial-phase male. If it becomes the dominant fish in its group, it can later change into a brightly colored terminal-phase male. The dark spot at the base of the tail gives the species its name, from the Greek for black-tailed. It is the largest of the commonly kept Halichoeres reef wrasses.

In the wild

The Melanurus wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, from Indonesia to Micronesia and southern Japan. It lives on shallow reef flats and in lagoons down to about 15 m.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Melanurus 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Melanurus wrasse need?

A Melanurus wrasse needs at least 100 gal (380 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Melanurus wrasse need?

A Melanurus wrasse is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a Melanurus wrasse eat?

A Melanurus wrasse eats a varied mix of mysis, brine shrimp and marine pellet or flake food. It also hunts pyramidellid snails, flatworms and bristleworms.

How big does a Melanurus wrasse get?

An adult Melanurus wrasse reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).

How can you tell a male Melanurus wrasse from a female?

Males that reach the terminal phase show a blue-green body crossed with pink or yellow stripes.

Related species