Half And Half Wrasse

Hemigymnus Melapterus

• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Reef Compatible: With Caution
• Max. Size: 35cm
• Origin: Great Barrier Reef

Add Hemigymnus Wrasse to well established aquariums. Provide an aquarium with ample rock work with plenty of crevices, cracks, caves and a deep sand bed. Careful planning should be taken as Hemigymnus become very large and are difficult to maintain in home aquariums. House only one Hemigymnus as they may become territorial. If frightened, they may bury themselves in the sand. These Wrasse will pick up mouthfulls of sand, sift it for crustaceans and then spit out the sand. Hemigymnus Wrasse generally feed on benthic invertebrates and small fish. Provide a diet rich in meaty foods fed multiple times daily. Adults may require live foods such as Grass or Glass shrimp in order to maintain good health. Wrasse are hermaphrodites meaning they start as juveniles/females but at some point in their life may turn into a male. Wrasse are jumpers be sure to provide an aquarium with a tight-fitting lid.

The Half and Half Wrasse are also known as the Barred Thicklip Wrasse. Juveniles show a white coloured front half and a black back half with a bit of yellow in its tail as they mature the white begins to turn green with blue and pink markings on its head and the black turns to a dark green. The Half and Half Wrasse grow up to 35cm in length.

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 1000L or larger for this species.

Due to variations within species and age of fish, your item may not look identical to the image provided.