François Libert, Frankreich
Info
Halichoeres leucurus (Walbaum, 1792)
Males of Halichoeres leucurus have a somewhat grayish head and greenish body with bluish lines from the snout to just behind the gill cover and orange spots on the body.
Females are usually light green overall with bluish lines from snout to caudal peduncle and have two black, blue-rimmed eyespots (ocelli), one on the dorsal side and one on the caudal peduncle.
Colors vary depending on the age of the specimen.
Halichoeres leucurus should best be kept in fish-only aquariums that have a fine sand bottom (0.5 - 2.0 mm) and a depth of at least 5 cm, as well as several crevices for hunting and also open swimming areas.
However, we do not recommend these wrasses for home community aquariums, as they will not only bump into or knock over bottom-dwelling corals when searching for tasty bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
As they grow in size, especially in the adult stage, they also like to chase and eat smaller fish, , including smaller fish by first striking them against hard objects and then eating the released scale, skin tissue and flesh.
Halichoeres leucurus will also readily take snails, tubeworms, crabs and shrimp, which it will also smash to consume if necessary.
Important:
The Grayhead Wrasse will quickly burrow into the sandy bottom when frightened, this also happens when it goes to sleep at night.
The rapid submersion into the sandy bottom can result in clouds of sand particles being released into the water, which may well harm various corals.
The very active wrasse should be fed twice a day.
Synonym: Labrus leucurus Walbaum, 1792
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Males of Halichoeres leucurus have a somewhat grayish head and greenish body with bluish lines from the snout to just behind the gill cover and orange spots on the body.
Females are usually light green overall with bluish lines from snout to caudal peduncle and have two black, blue-rimmed eyespots (ocelli), one on the dorsal side and one on the caudal peduncle.
Colors vary depending on the age of the specimen.
Halichoeres leucurus should best be kept in fish-only aquariums that have a fine sand bottom (0.5 - 2.0 mm) and a depth of at least 5 cm, as well as several crevices for hunting and also open swimming areas.
However, we do not recommend these wrasses for home community aquariums, as they will not only bump into or knock over bottom-dwelling corals when searching for tasty bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
As they grow in size, especially in the adult stage, they also like to chase and eat smaller fish, , including smaller fish by first striking them against hard objects and then eating the released scale, skin tissue and flesh.
Halichoeres leucurus will also readily take snails, tubeworms, crabs and shrimp, which it will also smash to consume if necessary.
Important:
The Grayhead Wrasse will quickly burrow into the sandy bottom when frightened, this also happens when it goes to sleep at night.
The rapid submersion into the sandy bottom can result in clouds of sand particles being released into the water, which may well harm various corals.
The very active wrasse should be fed twice a day.
Synonym: Labrus leucurus Walbaum, 1792
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
