Pale Barred Coris Wrasse

(Coris dorsomacula)

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 Pale Barred Coris Wrasse are sometimes also known simply as Pinklined Wrasse. Rarely seen in the aquarium trade. Coloration may vary depending on maturity. Juveniles are a pale color overall with a thick dark stripe, thin vertical white blotches on their sides and a small black spot on the rear of their dorsal fin. Adults are green with pink to red stripes fading to spots towards the rear of its body, eight pale thin vertical spots, yellow edged black spot on the rear of its gill cover and a small black spot on the rear of its dorsal fin. Pale Barred Coris Wrasse can grow up to almost 8".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 75 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
  • Diet: DietFrozen FoodFrozen Food DietLive FoodLive Food
  • Habitat: HabitatSand FlatSand Flat HabitatReefReef
  • Light: LightHighHigh