Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres Claudia)

Size: only S, M

Species Name : Halichoeres Claudia

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Blue, Green, Orange, Red, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 5"

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Labridae

Minimum Tank Size : 50 gallons

Distinctive for their stunning coloration, the beautifully ornamented Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres Claudia) is also known in the hobby as the Red-Lined or Biocellate Wrasse. Female Biocellate Wrasse feature distinct ocelli (eye spots) on their dorsal fins. The males of the species that we offer have reddish stripes along a green/orange body and a U-shaped mark between the end of the anal fin and the base of the caudal fin. They have no ocelli in the dorsal fin. The smaller and more peaceful their tank mates, the brighter your Christmas wrasse’s colors will get.

A 50 gallon or larger aquarium with a tight-fitting lid, a 2-3 inch sandy bottom to hide under if frightened, and other peaceful wrasses, including its own species, is an acceptable environment. A tank without a sand bed will make them stressed and increase the food they need, as burrowing saves them a lot of energy over night.

Christmas wrasses are sequential hermaphrodites, but the species changes to male in captive situations, regardless of the stocking in your aquarium.

These wrasse are very peaceful and will get along with almost all community fish. They will even tolerate other small wrasse, even of their own family, as long as they are not too similar in color and size. The Christmas Wrasse can do fine with smaller, semi-aggressive fish but should not be kept with big aggressive fish.

The Christmas Wrasse is reef safe. They will rarely show any interest in the smallest inverts and do not bother coral. When adding them to an established tank that has well grown inverts you should see absolutely no aggression towards any inverts from the Christmas Wrasse. It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. It may also eat parasites off of tank mates. As they hunt down obnoxious invertebrates in and around your corals, they’ll leave delicate polyps untouched.

The Christmas Wrasse eats a carnivorous diet. Feed your wrasse zooplankton, brine, mysis shrimp, and quality pellet and flake food. The Christmas Wrasse should be fed no less than three times a day if not four. 

Size: Small 1-1/2" - 3"; Medium 3" - 4"