Female Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

Looking for a beautiful fish that also works hard to keep your aquarium clean? The Melanurus Wrasse (also known as Hoeven’s Wrasse) is widely considered one of the absolute best utility fish in the saltwater hobby. These striking, active swimmers are the ultimate natural pest controllers for your reef!

The Ultimate Pest Hunter Say goodbye to unwanted hitchhikers! The Melanurus Wrasse is famous for its voracious appetite for common reef pests. They spend their entire day meticulously patrolling the rockwork, hunting down flatworms, bristle worms, pyramidellid snails (clam parasites), and even Montipora-eating nudibranchs. If you want to protect your valuable corals naturally, this wrasse is your first line of defense. Reef Safe & Coral Friendly The Melanurus Wrasse is highly sought after because it is completely safe for your corals—they will absolutely not nip at SPS, LPS, or soft corals. Note: Because they are such effective hunters of small invertebrates, they are considered “Reef Safe with Caution” when it comes to ornamental inverts. They may occasionally snack on very small snails, tiny hermit crabs, or small decorative shrimp, but larger shrimp are usually left alone. Female Coloration & Behavior While males are known for their neon pastel colors, females boast a stunning, refined beauty of their own. Females feature distinct, horizontal blue and yellow stripes along their bodies, often accented by a signature “eye spot” (ocellus) on their dorsal and tail fins. Like many wrasses, they are hermaphroditic—meaning this female has the potential to transition into a brilliantly colored male in the future if a dominant male is not present in the tank! Care & Habitat (Important!) Like all wrasses in the Halichoeres genus, the Melanurus Wrasse requires a soft sand bed (at least 2 inches deep). They do not sleep in the rocks; instead, they dive directly into the sand to sleep at night or to hide when frightened. Quick Care Stats:

• Pest Control: Excellent (Eats flatworms, bristle worms, and nuisance snails)
• Reef Safe: Yes (Safe with corals; use caution with very small ornamental inverts)
• Temperament: Peaceful to Active
• Diet: Carnivore (Thrives on meaty foods like mysis, brine shrimp, and high-quality pellets)
• Max Adult Size: Up to 4.5 – 5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 50+ gallons (Must have a sand bed!)
• Care Level: Easy