Dragon Wrasse

Novaculichthys Taeniourus

• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
• Reef Compatible: No
• Diet: Carnivore
• Max. Size: 30cm
• Origin: Great Barrier Reef

Novaculichthys Wrasse should be added to well established aquariums with plenty of room to swim. Plenty of rock work with rubble as Novaculichthys Wrasse are rock movers and will spend a significant amount of hunting by moving rocks and rubble looking for potential prey. A deep sand bend should also be provided as Novaculichthys Wrasse will sleep in the sand bend and will dive into the sand bed when frightened. Novaculichthys Wrasse are not reef safe and will pick at and consume benthic invertebrates such as snails, tubeworms, sea stars, cucumbers, urchins, crabs and shrimp. A diet rich in meaty based foods along with live foods such as black worms or adult fortified Brine shrimp if sufficient prey is not readily available. Males, females and juveniles may exhibit significant colour differences. Only 1 Novaculichthys Wrasse should be kept unless a pair as they can become aggressive. Wrasse are hermaphrodites meaning they start as juveniles/females but at some point in their life may turn into a male. Wrasse may jump be sure to provide an aquarium with a tight-fitting lid.

The Dragon Wrasse are sometimes also known as the Rockmover Wrasse. Juveniles and adult Dragon Wrasse may have different colouration. Juveniles show a brown or green colour with white spots while adults are a dark brown with a white line on each scale, pale white face and dark lines around the eyes. Dragon Wrasse can grow up to 30cm in length.

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 600L or larger for this species.

Due to variations within species and age of fish, your item may not look identical to the image provided.