Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus Varius) Male
Size: only S, M
Species Name : Gomphosus Varius
Care Level : Easy
Temperament : Semi-aggressive
Color : Black, Green, Tan
Diet : Carnivore
Reef Compatible : No
Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size : 12"
Origin : West-Indo Pacific
Family : Labridae
Minimum Tank Size : 125 gallons
The Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus Varius) is a unique wrasse with a distinctive appearance.
The Bird Wrasse is a medium-sized fish which can reach a standard length of 30 cm (12 in). It has an elongated body, laterally compressed, with a truncated tail and a long snout. Adults are relatively easy to recognize by their characteristic long nose and the jerky flapping of their pectoral fins when swimming. The female is brownish black, and the male is variations of green. For this reason the male is often called the Green Bird Wrasse, and the female, the Black or Brown Bird Wrasse. The female is smaller than the male and its body color is duller.
A 125 gallon or larger aquarium with large amounts of live rock which furnish food and hiding places provides a good environment. Because the Bird Wrasse is a "jumper," a tight-fitting lid on the tank is necessary. If a pair of Bird Wrasse are to be included in a tank, the female should be introduced first.
Bird Wrasses are a semi-aggressive fish that have a tendency to eat smaller fish and almost any crustacean, shrimp, crab, snail, or clam. Some will steal food out of the mouths of other tankmates. Do not mix with other elongated fish. This fish can grab that fish in its beak-like mouth and do serious harm.
Like many wrasses, Gomphosus Varius is a sequential hermaphrodite. As it changes sex, its body shape, color intensity and pattern vary considerably.
The Bird Wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food. It is recommended to feed this fish three times a day.
Size: Small: 2" to 3"; Medium: 3" to 4"; Large: 4" to 7" XLarge: 7" to 8"