Care Level: Advanced

Temperament: Peaceful

Reef Compatible: Yes

General Description: The Spotted Yellow Tail Tamarin Wrasse, also known simply as the Yellowtail Tamarin Wrasse, has a wide distribution across the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Indo-Pacific and west toward Africa in the Red Sea. Seldomly available in the aquarium trade and with the low success rate of collected Anampses wrasses acclimating from importation, the Yellowtail tamarin wrasse is truly a spectacle. With a dark body covered in various sized white spots and a bright yellow tail, the beauty of this wrasse comes at a price as it will require exceptional dedication and attention from the hobbyist in order to thrive long term. Yellowtail tamarin wrasses can be difficult to keep due to their feeding behavior (see ‘Diet Requirements’) and absolutely require a moderately-sized to fine sandy substrate in order to be able to bury themselves in. It is very common for your newly introduced tamarin wrasse to immediately bury themselves once released into the aquarium. There are few differences between males and females, each reaching an adult size of approximately 8″. Note: We have found through our 28 day quarantine process that allowing Anampses wrasses time to recover and adjust from importation is extremely important. Here, we are then able to also focus on providing the appropriate nutrition of these wrasses, setting up our Anampses wrasses for better success.

Diet Requirements: Yellowtail tamarin wrasses are carnivores, actively hunting tiny crustaceans (amphipods) throughout the day. Encouraging a Yellowtail tamarin wrasse to accept prepared foods can be a challenge. We have found that offering live brine shrimp at the beginning can gain the interest of particularily fussy or stubborn individuals. Abundant natural food resources should be available in the aquarium as to avoid starvation of your wrasse while it acclimates. Note: All of our Yellowtail tamarin wrasses for sale are eating frozen foods. Ultimately, a diet consisting of various meaty preparations such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other mixed frozen foods will maintain optimal health and coloration. We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements, as tamarin wrasses have very high metabolisms. Multiple, small feedings per day rather than one large feeding can also help and in turn create more of a natural environment for the tamarin wrasse as it would feed in the wild.

Care Requirements: A very established, minimum 90 gallon aquarium with a 3″ sandbed at the very least is needed for a Yellowtail tamarin wrasse. Having an extremely established tank offers the abundant microinvertebrate and crustacean fauna (such as amphiopods) that Yellowtail tamarin wrasses require. Tamarin wrasses enjoy a variety of rock work and crevices to swim through and around while they hunt. Such live rock arrangements can also help to make it feel secure and encourage more outgoing behavior. The Yellowtail tamarin wrasse is absolutely intolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes, or high nitrates (> 20 ppm) and deteriorating water parameters. Given their peaceful and timid nature, a Yellowtail tamarin wrasse should not be kept with overly aggressive or active species, especially those that can outcompete it in food resources. It is best to add a Yellowtail tamarin wrasse before larger or more outgoing fish in order to allow it to acclimate to the environment and begin feeding. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.

Purchase Size: Small: 2″ to 3-1/4″

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.