All fish / Labridae

Red-striped Wrasse

Halichoeres salmofasciatus

Also known as red striped wrasse, cocos wrasse, salmon-banded wrasse, redstripe wrasse

A small wrasse found only around Cocos Island, with a pale body crossed lengthways by bright red to salmon stripes. It is rarely seen in the trade, so collectors of unusual eastern Pacific fish prize it as an active, colourful addition to a reef or fish-only tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 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

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific: Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Breeding

Like other Halichoeres it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs or groups, releasing floating eggs. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Needs a deep sand bed to bury itself in at night and when stressed, and a tight lid as it can jump. It may eat small shrimps, snails and worms, and because it is endemic to a protected island national park, specimens are very scarce.