All fish / Labridae

Clown Wrasse

Halichoeres maculipinna

Also known as clown wrasse, spotfin wrasse, spot-fin wrasse, caribbean clown wrasse, clown wrass, 斑鳍海猪鱼

This is a small, slim Caribbean wrasse. Juveniles and females have a dark stripe along the side on a pale or yellowish body. Terminal males turn green with a dark blotch on the flank and a bright head pattern. Keepers like it because it is active and colourful, and it helps control small pests such as bristleworms and flatworms.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly, or one male with several females in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, small crustaceans and quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: North Carolina and Bermuda to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Brazil

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can change into terminal males. In the wild it spawns into open water and the eggs float. Captive breeding is very rare and rearing the larvae is extremely difficult.

Good to know

It needs a deep sand bed of at least 5 cm, because it buries itself to sleep and when stressed. A tight lid is essential since wrasses jump. It may eat small ornamental shrimps, snails and other small invertebrates, so it is not fully reef safe.