Painted wrasse
Halichoeres pictus
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.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 22–28 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| GH | 8–12 |
| KH | 7–11 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 20 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.05 |
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).