Adorned Wrasse

The adorned wrasse (Halichoeres cosmetus, Randall & Smith 1982) is highly sought after in the marine aquarium trade due to its rare availability, beautiful coloration, and tendency to eat nuisance invertebrates.  In the wild, the adorned wrasse has a large range from the eastern coast of Africa, throughout the Indian Ocean where it inhabits shallow coral and rocky reefs.  This wrasse naturally eats pyramidellid snails, fireworms, tubeworms, and flatworms, which it will keep at bay in the home aquarium. The adorned wrasse will thrive in a reef tank with lots of rock work on which to graze and a thick sand bed that it can burrow into at night or when stressed.  It is generally reef safe but may bother shrimp or feather dusters.  In addition to its constant grazing, these wrasses will readily accept our hatchery diet, frozen brine and mysis, as well as cyclopeeze.  Like most wrasses, adorned wrasses are prone to jumping when startled so a tight fitting lid is necessary.