Family: Labridae
Distribution: The Red Shoulder Wrasse live in the reef-associated, tropical marine environments of the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean and Eastern Pacific oceans. They live in depths of up to 30 metres. They prefer the clear, shallow waters of reef flats, lagoons and seaward reefs.
PH: 8.2
Temperature: Unknown
Salinity: 1.020 – 1.024
Description: The males grow up to 15cm long while the females only reach 8cm. Males exhibit a series of thin blue line along their sides. Females are mainly bluish grey with white spots and a red mark on their pectoral fin.
Diet: Feed your Red Shoulder Wrasse twice a day on brine shrimp, top quality flaked food, small shrimp, krill, flatworms and mysid shrimp.
Breeding: Like other wrasse, Red Shoulder Wrasse, or Dotted Rainbowfish, can change sex during their life to maintain the balance of dominance in a harem, which consists of a dominant male and multiple females in their natural marine environment. The females release their eggs into the water and the ocean currents take them away. As such, they are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity.
Comments: Mimic their natural environment by providing a sandy base in a marine set-up.
Tip: Information about keeping the Red Shoulder Wrasse in the aquarium hobby is very limited so use information sources based on the general Labridae family.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: In the wild, they live alone or in small groups so it doesn’t really matter if you keep one or more of these in your tank. They are considered reasonably peaceful although can display minor aggression in community aquariums.
Depending on the size and temperament of your wrasse, potential tankmates could include the hogfish, parrotfish, pseudochromis, squirrelfish, puffers, tangs and surgeons and live corals.
Originally posted 2010-03-15 20:08:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
