All fish / Labridae

Black wrasse

Halichoeres adustus

Also known as black wrasse, dusky wrasse, adustus wrasse, negros wrasse, halichoeres negrosensis, 暗色海猪鱼

This small wrasse is dark brown to almost black and often shows a fine mottled or greenish tinge, with a pale band across the tail base. It lives on shallow, rocky reef flats and rubble. Keepers like it as a hardy, busy fish that picks pests such as small snails and bristle worms off live rock.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Single fish, or one male with females in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: small crustaceans, mysis, chopped seafood, quality marine pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Central Pacific: Hawaii, Line Islands, Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands and Samoa, plus scattered Indo-Pacific records

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs or groups, releasing eggs that drift in the water column. Captive breeding has not been reported and would be very difficult.

Good to know

It needs a soft sand bed at least 5 cm deep so it can bury itself at night, plus a tight lid, as wrasses jump. It may eat small ornamental shrimps and other small invertebrates.