White Banded Possum Wrasse

Description

White Banded Possum Wrasse, Wetmorella albofasciata, also go by the name Whitebanded Sharpnose Wrasse. Like all members of the Wetmorella genus, males and females look alike. Compared to other species, members of this group are small in size.

These fish are shy but highly charismatic, thanks to their unusual shape and endearing quizzical look. I don’t think these guys would look out of place in Sid the sloth’s fossil record. They are red or brown in colour, with a series of thin white stripes across their body. Compared to their head, their eyes are large.

White Banded Possum Wrasse, Wetmorella albofasciata, Ecology:

These fish live in the Indo Pacific. They range from: Africa, Australia, Marshall and Hawaiian Islands.

White Banded Possum Wrasse live in lagoons, on coral reef slopes or on drop offs. They keep to caves and crevices that they use for protection. The complex structures help the wrasse avoid predation. Unlike some species, White Banded Possum Wrasse do not bury themselves to sleep or hide. Instead they have an incredibly nifty trick. In order to sleep safely, White Banded Possum Wrasse find a nook and envelope themselves in a protective mucus coat. Supposedly, this hides the wrasses scent from predators. These sticky invisibility cloaks do not degrade your water quality like some coral wax jackets’ might.

White Banded Possum Wrasse feed on small crustaceans. They have been known to eat pest species in captivity, such as flat worms and nudibranch. They could pose a risk to some sexy shrimp or similar small critters as well. We recommend consulting a member of staff if pest control is what you are after.

They are also protogynous hermaphrodites. Which means that, when they get old enough, breeding females transition into a male. As a result, all juveniles are immature females.

Whitebanded Sharpnose Wrasse In The Aquarium:

It is important to imitate the natural environment by provide plenty of nooks and crannies for the wrasse to hide in. Hobbyists should invest in a jump guard to prevent any unfortunate mishaps.

White Banded Possum Wrasse do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept enriched frozen mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. They will also devour live foods, such as copepods and amphipods, that can be cultivated in attached refugium. Over time they will accept high-quality pellet or flake. We adapt all our wrasse to aquarium life before they leave us. We focus on their health, and most are eating a good quality flake food and/or pellet, such as JBL Maris, before being offered for sale.

The Fish pictured here are representative only and the livestock you receive may vary in pattern, coloration, and shape.