• Name:

    Sea Grass Wrasse

    (View AKA's)
  • Family: Labridae
  • Species: Wrasse
  • Scientific Name: Novaculichthys macrolepidotus
More Details

Also Know As:

| Emerald Wrasse

General info about Sea Grass Wrasse

Sea Grass Wrasse is a helpful pest controller. Often seen in shades of light to dark green, brownish-red to even black, the Sea Grass Wrasse's blade-like body allows it to disappear into the sea grass beds and sandy algal flats of lagoons and mangrove channels it calls home. They're even known to swim like free-floating, swaying algae in order to camouflage themselves from predators. If you're looking for a natural way to control flatworms, pyramid snails, montipora eating nudibranches, and more, the mild-mannered Sea Grass Wrasse has the crushing teeth and carnivorous appetite for the task. The Sea Grass Wrasse should reside in an aquarium with a 2-4 inch sandy bottom in which it can submerge itself since it sleeps in the sand. It may be kept with fish that are aggressive or larger than it is but should be housed with more passive fish as a juvenile. The aquarium should also have a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out.

Caution with Sea Grass Wrasse

Wrasse are considered jumpers make sure your aquarium has a tight-fitting canopy or screen cover to prevent the Wrasse from jumping out of your aquarium. Wrasse have been known to jump through the smallest of holes in a canopy. 

Wrasses prefer to have a 2" (5cm) sandbed to allow them to burrow into the sand to sleep or when they feel like they are in danger. Some people with bare bottom tanks have also added a Tupperware with a 2" deep sand bed to accommodate the wrasse's needs. 

They are generally peaceful but may display aggression towards members of the same species.

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Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Sea Grass Wrasse Wrasse Labridae Novaculichthys macrolepidotus Sea Grass Wrasse is a helpful pest controller. Often seen in shades of light to dark green, brownish-red to even black, the Sea Grass Wrasse's blade-like body allows it to disappear into the sea grass beds and sandy algal flats of lagoons and mangrove channels it calls home. They're even known to swim like free-floating, swaying algae in order to camouflage themselves from predators. If you're looking for a natural way to control flatworms, pyramid snails, montipora eating nudibranches, and more, the mild-mannered Sea Grass Wrasse has the crushing teeth and carnivorous appetite for the task. The Sea Grass Wrasse should reside in an aquarium with a 2-4 inch sandy bottom in which it can submerge itself since it sleeps in the sand. It may be kept with fish that are aggressive or larger than it is but should be housed with more passive fish as a juvenile. The aquarium should also have a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out. PalaciosAn

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