Dusky Wrasse Juv/Female

Description

Dusky Wrasse Juv/Female, Halichoeres marginatus, also go by the name Marginatus Wrasse. These splendid fish make a great addition to marine tanks.

Like all members of the Halichoeres genus, males and females are sexually dimorphic. Meaning they look different even though they are the same species. Some differences are more prominent than others. Female Dusky Wrasse have deep brownish bodies with red stripes. When juvenile however, females are dark and covered in white dashes. They both sport large eye spots along their dorsal fin. Males on the other hand, have brilliant green bodies covered in blue speckles. Their fins show off intricate red and blue patterns.

Halichoeres wrasse are found in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. The etymology for the genus is ‘Salt’, (alis) and ‘Pig’ (choiros).

Dusky Wrasse Juv/Female, Halichoeres marginatus, Ecology: 

These fish live in the Indo-Pacific. Ranging from: Australia, Japan, Mozambique, the Red Sea and Hawaiian Islands.

Juv/Female Dusky Wrasse live on and around coral reefs and in lagoons. The complex structures help the wrasse dodge predators. Failing that, Dusky Wrasse quickly vanish by burying themselves in the sand bed. These Wrasse live in social groups with one top male to a few or more females. Dusky Wrasse are also protogynous hermaphrodites. Which means when the top male dies, the largest female in the group will turn male. It will then become the new breeding male. As a result, all juvenile Dusky Wrasse, are in fact immature females.

In the wild, Juv/Female Dusky Wrasse flit in amongst crevices, seeking out small invertebrates. Their eyes are disconjugate, making them incredibly effective hunters. They can also handle larger prey, thanks to their bashing technique. Where they chuck a prey item against rock to break it up.

Halichoeres wrasse could be helpful for dealing with pests. Such as nuisance snails, polychaete and nudibranchs, but may be risky with some kinds of ornamental critters. We recommend giving us a call to answer any compatibility questions you may have.

Marginatus Wrasse In the Aquarium:

It is important to copy the natural environment by providing plenty of nooks and crannies. There should also be a good sand bed for the wrasse to hide and sleep in. Hobbyists should get a jump guard to stop any unfortunate losses.

Juv/Female Dusky 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.