Melanurus Wrasse - (No Online Purchases)

The Melanurus Wrasse is a popular and beneficial species for many marine aquarists.

Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

Scientific Name:   Halichoeres melanurus
Common Names:    Pinstriped Wrasse, Tail-Spot Wrasse, Hoeven's Wrasse, Yellow-lined Wrasse
Size:    Up to 12-15 cm (4.7–6 inches)
Lifespan:    5–7 years (in captivity)
Reef Compatibility:    Generally considered Reef Safe with Caution. They do not typically bother corals (LPS or soft corals) but will eat small motile invertebrates like ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and feather dusters.
Temperament    Peaceful to semi-aggressive (territorial with other wrasses or new additions).
Minimum Tank Size:    50–75 gallons, due to their active nature.
Diet    Carnivore (Feeds on small benthic invertebrates in the wild).

Key Features and Care
Colouration and Sex Differences
Males (Terminal Phase): Feature a vibrant blue-green body with striking orange to yellow horizontal stripes running the length of the body. They have intricate blue, yellow, and red markings on their face and do not have the prominent black spot on the tail.

Females/Juveniles (Initial Phase): Their colors are often more subdued, and they display a prominent black spot on the upper base of their caudal (tail) fin, which gives them the common name "Tail-Spot Wrasse."

Aquarium Benefits
Melanurus Wrasses are highly valued for their ability to control nuisance pests:

They are famous for actively hunting and consuming Planaria flatworms (especially the reddish-brown variety).

They also prey on pyramidellid snails, which are common parasites of Tridacna clams.

They will forage constantly on live rock and in the sand for copepods, isopods, and bristleworms.

Aquarium Requirements
Sand Substrate: A necessary requirement. They must have a bed of medium to fine sand at least 2–3 inches deep to burrow into at night for sleep or when startled. Without sand, they can become stressed and may injure themselves trying to burrow into bare tank bottom or coarse substrate.

Lid: A tight-fitting lid is mandatory. Like all Halichoeres wrasses, they are highly prone to jumping out of the aquarium, especially when new, startled, or during their nightly sleep cycle.

Rockwork: Provide plenty of live rock with nooks and crevices for hunting and exploring.

Compatibility
They are generally peaceful towards most fish but may be territorial toward other newly introduced wrasses, especially those of a similar shape.

They should not be kept with delicate or very small invertebrates, such as shrimp (like Cleaner or Peppermint Shrimp) or small hermit crabs/snails, as they will likely be eaten.

• Origin:
• Adult Size: 12cm
• Social: Peaceful with similarly sized fish
• Care: Easy