Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Reef Compatible: With Caution

General Description: The Formosa Wrasse, also known as the Queen Coris Wrasse, is found across the Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, and Coral Sea. Like all wrasses in the genus Coris, the Red coris wrasse absolutely requires a several-inch deep 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 Formosa wrasses have a deep red to burgundy body, a clear caudal fin, several white stripes on the body that extend into the dorsal fin, a black spot in the dorsal fin, and the dorsal and anal fins are edged in black. A Formosa wrasse will lose these markings as it matures into an adult. The coloration of the body transitions also, incorporating hues of green and tan with black spots, reddish fins, and a yellow forehead with a blue diagonal line behind the eye. A juvenile Formosa wrasse should not be mistaken for the similarily looking, and perhaps more common, juvenile Red Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard). An adult Formosa wrasse can reach an impressive size of 20″ in the wild, but often does not exceed 8″ in the home aquarium.

Diet Requirements: Formosa 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 Formosa wrasse. However, the tank may need to be upgraded accordingly as it matures, or for a smaller adult specimen (125 gallon). A tight fitting lid is a must because these wrasses are known to jump out of aquariums. Formosa 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 Formosa wrasse could be kept in a reef aquarium, but various invertebrates including featherdusters, crabs and shrimp are at risk of being eaten. An adult Formosa 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 Formosa wrasse would be bested added 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. Avoid timid and docile fish species that are subject to bullying. 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″; Large: 3-1/4″ to 3-3/4″; Adult Medium: 4-1/4″ to 5-1/2″; Large: 5-3/4″ to 7″

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