Queen Coris Wrasse, Adult

(Coris formosa)

Coris Wrasse are known as Rainbow Wrasses with the males being more colorful and a bit larger than the females. Juvenile Rainbow Wrasse are generally reef safe but as they mature can start being a bit destructive. Harems can be kept in the aquarium with 1 male and several females if added at the same time. Provide an aquarium with ample rock work, cracks, crevices and caves for hiding and resting. Coris Wrasse are burrowers and need a thick sand bed to sleep and rest in. They spend a great deal of time turning over rock and coral rubble in search of crustaceans. Adults should be fed twice a day large amounts of meaty foods with juveniles being fed a few more times daily. Avoid adding smaller more peaceful fish as the Coris Wrasse may harass them. Wrasse are hermaphrodites meaning they start as juveniles/females but at some point in their life may turn into a male. Wrasse may jump provide an aquarium with a tight fitting lid.

The Queen Coris Wrasse are sometimes also known as Formosa Wrasse. Occasionally seen in the aquarium trade. Juveniles, females and males will look drastically different. Juveniles are orange with usually five black trimmed white saddles on the top of their body as well as a black spot on its dorsal fin. Females are a gray to green body color with small black spots, yellow head with a couple of blue diagonal lines and a red and white tail. Adult males are brown to light red, green spots with dark vertical stripes, red head with thin green stripes and a bright red and purple to gray tail with blue spots. Queen Coris Wrasse can grow up to almost 24".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 250 gallons or larger for this species.

Water conditions: Salinity 1.020 - 1.025, Temp (F) 72 - 78, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Alkalinity 8 - 12 dKH

  • Care: CareEasyEasy CareModerateModerate
  • Behavior: BehaviorAgressiveAgressive BehaviorSocialSocial
  • Diet: DietLive FoodLive Food DietFrozen FoodFrozen Food
  • Habitat: HabitatSand FlatSand Flat HabitatReefReef
  • Light: LightHighHigh