The Final Dragon Wrasse Care Information

The Dragon Wrasse is a fish that’s filled with character. It’s all the time looking out for meals and it shows some distinctive behaviors to get it.

They’re an aggressive species, which can put some folks off, however it’s value braving this aggression as a result of these are very enticing fish that change in look fairly a bit as they mature.

We are going to cowl the whole lot it is advisable learn about Dragon Wrasse care on this article, equivalent to their ideally suited tank design and their dietary wants.

Dragon Wrasse Details & Overview

The Dragon Wrasse has many names, such because the Rockmover Wrasse, Carpet Wrasse, Bar-Cheeked Wrasse, Reindeer Wrasse, and Olive-Scribbled Wrasse.

Its scientific title is Novaculichthys taeniourus and it’s a part of the Labridae household, which accommodates all of the wrasses. It’s presently the one member of its genus.

Dragon Wrasses are saltwater fish from the Indo-Pacific, residing round locations equivalent to Australia, The Philippines, Hawaii, and California. They stay in shallow coral reefs and lagoons.

Having some earlier fishkeeping expertise is helpful resulting from their habits. Newcomers could need to begin with one thing a bit simpler.

You need to be capable to get a Dragon Wrasse for about $50, however the worth can differ rather a lot.

Verify any potential fish for indicators of illness. Look out for any markings, wounds, or unusual behaviors. Discover a completely different inventory in case you do discover any issues.
As soon as launched, a Dragon Wrasse can stay for over 10 years in a wholesome aquarium.

Typical Habits

Dragon Wrasses are aggressive and territorial, they may assault any fish that will get too shut.

They may also eat any animals (together with invertebrates) which can be sufficiently small to slot in their mouths, so they need to solely be saved with massive aggressive tank mates. They don’t seem to be reef-safe.

After they really feel threatened, they could dive into the substrate, wiggling round till it’s troublesome to see them. They could transfer round below the substrate and seem in new places.

When looking for meals, they typically transfer stones and particles round, which is why they’re generally often known as “Rockmover Wrasse”.

Within the wild they could even work collectively, taking turns at lifting rocks and grabbing what lays hidden beneath.

Be sure your decorations are secured down in order that they don’t get moved round.

Look

Juveniles and adults look fully completely different, it might be straightforward to mistake them as completely different species, however all types of the Dragon Wrasse are lovely.

Juveniles are also known as “Reindeer Wrasse” as a result of they’ve appendages on their head that appear to be horns/antlers.

They’ve a flat physique that could possibly be lined in a wide range of colours, together with white, black, reds, and darkish greens.

Lengthy dorsal and pelvic fins prolong from the physique. These have darkish rays and a transparent membrane, making them look frilly.

The design of their physique and fins makes them appear to be seaweed. Juveniles even drift via the water like seaweed particles, making wonderful camouflage.

Adults lose this aesthetic. The frilly nature of the fins is misplaced, and their physique turns into lined in a structured sample of grey spots on a darkish physique. Their tails grow to be white with a black edging too.

A totally grown grownup will attain 10.5 inches.

Sexing this species may be very troublesome as a result of women and men look just about the identical and they’re roughly the identical measurement.

Habitat and Tank Situations

Yow will discover Dragon Wrasses on reverse sides of the world as a result of they stay in Indo-Pacific areas, equivalent to California, Panama, Hawaii, Australia, and Indonesia.

They stay within the shallows (46-82 toes) on reefs and in lagoons. Right here there are many corals and/or rocks to create houses and areas to defend.

There could be a lot of grassy areas amongst a substrate of sand and rubble.

The water could be heat and alkaline.

Recreating this setting is one of the best ways to maintain your Dragon Wrasse glad and wholesome.

Tank Situations

Beginning on the backside of the tank, use a sandy substrate to create a layer about 2-4 inches thick, giving your Dragon Wrasse the flexibility to burrow. Bigger grained substrates could scratch after they do that.

Use rocks so as to add some ornament to the aquarium. Don’t use corals or your Dragon Wrasse will injury them.

Safe your decorations within the substrate in order that they don’t grow to be unstable when your fish digs.

Unfold some grass across the tank the place you possibly can.

The popular water situations are much like different reef fish. The temperature ought to be 72°F-78°F, the pH ought to be 8.1-8.4, and the precise gravity ought to be 1.020-1.025.

Use a filter with a powerful outlet. Ensure you have a tight-fitting lid too, as this fish may leap.

What Dimension Tank do they want?

An grownup Dragon Wrasse will want a fish tank of a minimum of 100 gallons. They’re massive fish that will probably be extra prone to present aggression when residing in a cramped setting.

Any additional house you possibly can present will probably be appreciated.

Tank Mates

Discovering the proper tank mates for a Dragon Wrasse will be troublesome. Their aggressive behaviors will be an excessive amount of for lots of fish. They’ll eat small fish too.
Which means that tank mates have to be massive and in a position to defend themselves.

This limits your choice fairly a bit, however you possibly can attempt groupers, triggerfish, hawkfishes, and snappers.

Invertebrates ought to be averted as most will probably be eaten fairly rapidly. This consists of corals; Dragon Wrasses usually are not reef protected.

Your Dragon Wrasse ought to be the final fish added to your setup. If the Dragon Wrasse is established first, it won’t respect new tank mates being added to its territory, so it could lash out at them.

Be careful for indicators of aggression, particularly whereas the Dragon Wrasse is getting used to its new setting. You’ll have to separate fish in the event that they struggle usually.

Many individuals recommend that you simply purchase a juvenile and hold it single. This removes compatibility issues and also you get to observe all of the modifications that happen because it matures.

Can You Maintain Dragon Wrasse Collectively?

No, solely hold one Dragon Wrasse per tank. They’re aggressive and territorial; seeing one other Dragon Wrasse of their environment would result in frequent combating till there is just one left.

Weight loss plan

Dragon Wrasses are carnivores. They’ve two massive enamel that they use to interrupt down their prey.

They’d naturally spend a variety of their time swimming round reefs looking for meals, generally having to maneuver issues round of their setting.

They’d fortunately eat something that comes their means which is sufficiently small to suit into their mouth. This could possibly be small fish or invertebrates, equivalent to worms, shrimps, and snails.

This provides you a variety of meaty meals to select from when designing their eating regimen. It additionally makes it a lot simpler to differ their eating regimen, which is vital for offering a variety of vitamins.

Attempt utilizing contemporary or frozen meals like brine shrimps, mysid shrimps, blackworms, and silversides.

You’ll be able to present high-quality flake and pellet meals too, however reasonable your use of those as they’re much less nutritious.

Give them small quantities of meals 2-3 instances a day.

Care

If you know the way to cope with aggressive fish, caring for a Dragon Wrasse is comparatively easy.

As with all fish, they want a clear setting and a nutritious diet.

Common tank upkeep consists of performing partial water modifications and wiping away extra algae. You will have to trim any stay vegetation as wanted too.

Use a water testing every week so that you could reply rapidly if any of the water parameters stray from the perfect ranges.

Dragon Wrasses usually are not susceptible to any illnesses particularly, however they’ll decide up widespread saltwater illnesses.

Separate the affected fish right into a quarantine tank earlier than therapy.

Breeding

It is vitally troublesome to get Dragon Wrasses to breed in captivity, you would want a big industrial setup. It’s not well worth the effort or the danger of aggressive outbursts between your fish.

A mating pair would naturally undergo a courtship ritual, ending with the feminine releasing her eggs and the male fertilizing them.

The fertilized eggs would float within the ocean present for as much as 75 days earlier than lastly hatching.
Are Dragon Wrasses Appropriate for Your Aquarium?

Newbie aquarists ought to be cautious of a Dragon Wrasse’s aggressive nature, as it might trigger issues in case you’re unprepared.

Anybody who feels assured that they’ll deal with this habits ought to be capable to take care of a Dragon Wrasse with out concern. Their wants are easy; simply clear their tank and provides them a various, nutritious eating regimen.

Chances are you’ll be pissed off by the restricted tank mate choices, however these fish are lovely and their fiery character will hold you entertained for hours.

Buying a juvenile is especially rewarding since you get to observe their look and habits change drastically over time.

What does your Dragon Wrasse aquarium setup appear to be? Tell us within the feedback beneath…