• Name:

    Yellow and Purple Wrasse

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

Also Know As:

| White or Four Spot wrasse

General info about Yellow and Purple Wrasse

The Yellow & Purple Wrasse originates from the invertebrate-rich waters of Sri Lanka. The Juvenile form is yellow and white/purple in coloration. The top half of the fish is yellow, while the lower half is white to purple. As the fish matures, the yellow coloration is lost to a beautiful pink coloration. Exercise caution if including this species into a reef aquarium, as it may feed upon feather dusters, ornamental shrimp and other similar invertebrates. The Yellow & Purple Wrasse requires an aquarium with plenty of live rock and a few inch deep sand bed which it will use for hiding and grazing. This species is a known jumper, and a tight fitting canopy is a must.

Caution with Yellow and Purple 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.

Relevent Articles

Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Yellow and Purple Wrasse Wrasse Labridae Halichoeres leucoxanthus The Yellow & Purple Wrasse originates from the invertebrate-rich waters of Sri Lanka. The Juvenile form is yellow and white/purple in coloration. The top half of the fish is yellow, while the lower half is white to purple. As the fish matures, the yellow coloration is lost to a beautiful pink coloration. Exercise caution if including this species into a reef aquarium, as it may feed upon feather dusters, ornamental shrimp and other similar invertebrates. The Yellow & Purple Wrasse requires an aquarium with plenty of live rock and a few inch deep sand bed which it will use for hiding and grazing. This species is a known jumper, and a tight fitting canopy is a must. PalaciosAn

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