Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Reef Compatible: With Caution

General Description: The Red Coris Wrasse, also known as the Red Labrid Wrasse, Yellowtail Coris Wrasse, or Gaimard’s Wrasse, has an incredibly large distribution across all reefs in the Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, and Hawaii. Like all wrasses in the genus Coris, the Red coris wrasse absolutely requires a medium to fine sandy substrate in order to be able to bury themselves at night for protection or if felt threatened during daylight. In fact, it is very common for your newly introduced wrasse to immediately bury themselves once released into the aquarium. Juvenile Red coris wrasses have a red to orange body, a clear caudal fin and several white stripes on the body that extend into the dorsal fin. A Red coris wrasse will lose these markings as it matures into an adult, as the coloration of the body incorporates hues of green and becomes speckled with blue spots that contrast against a bright yellow caudal fin. A juvenile Red coris wrasse should not be mistaken for the similarily looking juvenile Formosa Wrasse (Coris formosa). An adult Red coris wrasse can reach an impressive size of 12″ in the wild, but often does not exceed 6 to 8″ in the home aquarium.

Diet Requirements: Red coris wrasses are carnivores. A diet consisting of various meaty preparations such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, mussels, clams, krill and other mixed frozen foods that contain algae, such as spirulina, will maintain optimal health and coloration. We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements, as these wrasses have very high metabolisms. Red coris wrasses will also accept high quality flake or pellet foods, which is great for nutritional gaps and variety.

Care Requirements: An established, minimum 75 gallon aquarium with a 4-5″ sandbed at the very least is needed for a juvenile Red coris wrasse. However, the tank may need to be upgraded accordingly as it matures, or for a larger adult specimen (125 gallon). A tight fitting lid is a must because these wrasses are known to jump out of aquariums. Red coris wrasses enjoy a variety of rock work and crevices to swim through and around while they actively hunt, but make sure to leave some open sandbed space for burying. A juvenile Red coris wrasse could be kept in a reef aquarium, but various invertebrates including featherdusters, crabs and shrimp are at risk of being eaten. An adult Red coris wrasse can be more destructive as they are capable of reaquascaping some of the rock work, making it not a good reef inhabitant. Therefore, a Red coris wrasse would make an excellent addition to a fish only with live rock aquarium, and with other tank mates that match its energetic and bold disposition such as triggerfish, pufferfish, larger angelfish, and tangs. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.

Purchase Size: Juvenile Small: 2″ or less; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3-1/2″; Adult Small: 2-1/4″ or less; Medium: 2-1/2″ to 3-1/4″; Large: 3-1/2″ to 4-1/2″

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