Red Shoulder Wrasse

Overview

The Red Shoulder Wrasse is an attractive fish with a blue-green body accented by a distinctive red-orange patch behind the pectoral fin, giving it its common name. It's a hardy, active species that also provides useful pest control by hunting small nuisance invertebrates such as pest flatworms and bristleworms.

It's an easy feeder and adapts well to aquarium life, making it a good choice for keepers wanting an active wrasse with genuine pest-hunting value.

A soft, sufficiently deep sand bed is essential for this species' wellbeing, since sand-diving at night or when startled is a core natural behaviour rather than an occasional quirk.

Compatibility

Red Shoulder Wrasses are peaceful toward fish tankmates and generally coexist well with a wide range of community species. They can occasionally prey on small invertebrates like ornamental shrimp or snails, so this species is rated reef safe with caution.

They are not aggressive toward other fish and mix well with tangs, angelfish, and other peaceful to semi-aggressive tankmates.

Health & quarantine

This is a hardy, adaptable species with few chronic health issues, though a sufficiently deep, soft sand bed is essential for its wellbeing given its sand-diving habit. A standard quarantine period of two to four weeks is recommended, and this species generally acclimates and feeds well with minimal issues.