Nebulous Wrasse Juv/Female

Description

Nebulous Wrasse Juv/Female, Halichoeres nebulosus, also go by the name Picture Wrasse. These stunning marine fish have beautiful, mottled patterns.

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 clearer than others. Females have pale green bodies that darken with age. They also have a bright pink patch on their belly and a dark eye spot o their dorsal fin. Pink markings under the eye instead of the stomach, distinguish the males from the females.

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

Nebulous Wrasse Juv/Female, Halichoeres nebulosus, Ecology:

These fish are widespread in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, their range includes the Red Sea.

They live in and around coral reefs and in rocky areas. The complex structures help the wrasse avoid predation. Failing that, Juv/Female Nebulous 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. Nebulous Wrasse are also protogynous hermaphrodites. Which means when the top male perishes, the largest female in the group will turn male. It will then become the new breeding male. As a result, all juvenile Nebulous Wrasse, are in fact immature females.

In the wild, these fish flit in amongst crevices, seeking out small invertebrates. Their eyes are disconjugate, making them incredibly effective hunters. Juv/Female Nebulous Wrasse 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 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.

Picture 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.

Nebulous Wrasse Juv/Female do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept enriched frozen mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. They will also eat 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.