Fishician®Diet
Carnivore – frozen mysis, brine shrimp, marine pellets, copepods
Aquarium species profile
Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus · Western Pacific (Indonesia, Philippines, Australia)
Minimum tank55 gal
Adult size5"
Care levelEasy
TemperamentSemi-Aggressive
Temperature72–80°F
pH range8.1–8.4
Compatible tank mates
Most reef fish; good pest control
Tank mates to avoid
Small ornamental shrimp, other Halichoeres wrasses in smaller tanks
Care notes
Stunning green-blue body with patterning. Eats nuisance pests (flatworms, pyramidellid snails, bristleworms). Sleeps buried in sand—provide deep sand bed.
Check the whole aquarium. Tank size alone does not establish compatibility. Confirm adult size, water overlap, social grouping, territory, diet, and the individual animals before stocking.