Painted wrasse
Halichoeres pictus
Family : Labridae
The painted wrasse is a colorful and active fish, ideal for reef aquariums. It is known for its cleaning behavior and ability to control parasites.
Description
This wrasse has an elongated body with a vivid coloration mixing green, blue, red and yellow. Adult males display more pronounced patterns than females. It reaches up to 10 cm and has a continuous dorsal fin. It is a very active diurnal swimmer that spends its time searching for small invertebrates in the substrate. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: females can turn into males. In aquariums, it is known to remove parasites from other fish. It may jump out of the water, so a lid is necessary.
Habitat
Region :
Coral reefs and shallow rocky areas
Distribution :
Recommended parameters
Care
Care notes
Maintain a temperature of 22-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025, GH 8-12, KH 7-11. Minimum tank volume is 200 liters. Diet should be carnivorous: brine shrimp, mysis, krill, small crustaceans and enriched preparations. It is generally peaceful but can be territorial towards other wrasses. A lid is mandatory to prevent jumping. It can coexist with peaceful fish of similar size. Good filtration and regular water changes are essential. It is sensitive to water quality, especially nitrates (max 20 mg/L) and phosphates (max 0.05 mg/L).
Similar species
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