Red Coris Wrasse, Juvenile

(Coris gaimard)

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 Red Coris Wrasse are sometimes also known as Clown, Red Labrid or Yellowtail Coris Wrasse. Commonly 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. Adults are similar in color with a green to blue body color with blue dots, a green to orange face with green lines and a yellow tail. Females will be somewhat subdued in color compared to the males. Red Coris Wrasse can grow up to almost 16".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 150 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
  • Behavior: BehaviorAgressiveAgressive BehaviorSocialSocial
  • Diet: DietFlake FoodFlake Food DietLive FoodLive Food DietFrozen FoodFrozen Food
  • Habitat: HabitatReefReef HabitatSand FlatSand Flat
  • Light: LightHighHigh