Yellowtail Wrasse

Overview

The Yellowtail Wrasse is an active, robust fish typically displaying a blue-green to grey body with a bright yellow tail, growing to a substantial adult size that requires genuine planning before purchase. It's a hardy, useful wrasse for hunting pest bristleworms and other nuisance invertebrates, making it popular with keepers dealing with an outbreak.

Its hunting instincts mean it can also prey on beneficial small invertebrates like ornamental shrimp or feather dusters, so tankmates should be chosen with this in mind.

Given its adult size and active nature, it does best in a large, well-established tank with a soft, sufficiently deep sand bed for its nightly burrowing habit.

Compatibility

Yellowtail Wrasses can be semi-aggressive, particularly toward other wrasses of similar size and shape, and may become territorial as they mature. They generally coexist well with tangs, angelfish, and other robust community fish.

This species is rated reef safe with caution — while it won't touch stony or soft coral, it will actively hunt small crustaceans and worms, posing a risk to ornamental shrimp and other small invertebrates in the display.

Health & quarantine

This is a hardy, adaptable wrasse with few chronic health issues, though like most wrasses it's a capable jumper, so a secure lid is important. A minimum four-week quarantine is recommended good practice, and this species generally acclimates and feeds well without major issues.