Last updated on February 20th, 2024 at 07:15 am
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse, or the golden diamond tail fairy wrasse, is a beautiful species of marine fish native to the waters surrounding the Philippines and Indonesia that has become popular in recent years due to its attractive coloration and relative ease of care in an aquarium environment.
You may have heard the term rhomboidalis before and wondered why it was called that; Well, rhomboidalis is actually a scientific term referring to the shape of this fish’s body. It comes from the Latin rhombus, meaning diamond, and ellus, meaning shape or form. Since the fish resembles a diamond in its body shape, the name rhomboidalis has been used since 1775 to describe many different kinds of fish in the family Labridae.
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse is one of the most popular Cirrhilabrus species in the aquarium trade, native to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, north to southern Japan, to Australia, and New Caledonia.
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse, also known as the diamond tail fairy wrasse, is actually an unlikely cross between two of the most popular fish in the saltwater aquarium hobby. The parent species of this hybrid, the flame wrasse and parrotfish, are both well-known favorites among fish keepers because of their unique looks and personalities.
The flame wrasse belongs to the genus Labridae and can be found in warm ocean waters around Australia, while the parrotfish comes from the family Scaridae and lives primarily in the Indo-Pacific region.
This piece will give you all of the information you need to know about your new pet and ensure that your first experience with it goes smoothly.
Origin and description
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse is a species of wrasse native to western Pacific Ocean waters. The males can reach up to 10 centimetres in length, while females are smaller, growing up to 8 centimetres long. They have small black patches at the base of their dorsal and anal fins, which distinguish them from other fairy wrasses.
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse is found on coral reefs, where they inhabit rocky slopes. There, they form groups consisting of one male with three or four females. Like other fairy wrasses, they spend most of their time away from shelter under rocks or overhangs.
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse has a body coloration that varies according to an individual’s sex and age; it grows pale during its first months before turning bright red later on in life.
These fish have been observed sheltering under rocks and overhangs, which may serve as protection from predators such as moray eels, barracudas, stonefish, basses, batfish, and snappers.
Species profile
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse, or diamond tail fairy wrasse, is a great beginner fish for a saltwater aquarium. It has several qualities that make it ideal for people who are just getting into fishkeeping.
They are moderately sized, golden, and white-colored fish that can be quite stunning if looked after correctly. In captivity, they can grow to a size of 10cm and need an aquarium of at least 30 gallons in size.
It may seem odd but they do best in pairs as opposed to being on their own so it’s advisable that you keep them with another member of their species.
Habitat
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse is found in coral reefs at depths of 16 to 35 feet. They are highly sensitive to water quality, and will not thrive in polluted or otherwise degraded waters. Many areas that used to be optimal habitats for these fish have been destroyed by human activity, so it is imperative that we preserve what remains.
The effects of climate change could also affect population levels of golden rhomboidalis wrasse. Currently, all populations of this species can still be considered stable or growing. In addition to keeping an eye on how our actions impact their natural environment, aquarists must take care with captive conditions as well—water flow and temperature are two factors directly affecting success.
These fish cannot handle strong currents, which can stress them out if they don’t get enough oxygen during times of low tide, when tides pull back from shorelines.
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse size
They can grow to a maximum length of 4 inches (10 cm).
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse tank size
A minimum of 50 gallon tank for a single specimen is recommended, if you want to house more than one, then a larger size like 75 gallon tank or more can be used. The larger volume of water will help dilute some of their aggression.
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse tank mates
The Golden rhomboidalis wrasse is an aggressive fish that should not be housed with other schooling species. They will harass and nip at their fellow tank mates, often driving them from the display tank. Only keep with larger fish that are too large to fit in their mouths like angelfish, tangs, triggers, jacks, and large surgeonfish. These species can be housed together as long as there is plenty of room for each to establish a territory.
Some of the best tank mates are Angelfish, Damsels, Tangs, Jacks, and Surgeonfish. You can even keep them with other aggressive fish such as Lionfish. If you decide to house with a tang be sure to provide plenty of hiding places for both fish.
They can be housed with other fish, but are likely to become territorial over territory containing coral or algae growth. Therefore, they may nip at other fish which share their territory. Due to their size and aggression, they should not be housed with smaller fish as they may eat them.
Breeding
The first step to breeding your wrasse is to determine if they are male or female. A good way to tell their sex is by noticing coloration. Males will have a much darker head with bright yellow cheeks and a blue body, while females are more muted with brown heads and tannish bodies.
Another key difference between males and females is their size; males are larger than females, so be sure to account for that if you plan on breeding these fish. These characteristics are only valid in healthy adults though because stunting and other physical abnormalities can cause changes in coloring during maturation.
Additionally, some species of rhomboids may even change drastically during their maturation cycle – one juvenile may be mostly yellow with dark stripes while another may have an almost exclusively black body when they reach adulthood.
Are Golden rhomboidalis wrasse aggressive or peaceful?
The golden rhomboidalis wrasse can be kept with most fish and are peaceful towards their tank mates. They are not aggressive to other fish at all and really shouldn’t cause any issues in a community tank. However, they will eat mantis shrimp, so make sure there is nothing else in your tank that you don’t want to have eaten! This species does have excellent swimming skills and is more than happy to swim around with its new tank mates.
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse care
The Golden rhomboidalis wrasse prefers a dimly lit aquarium with lots of rockwork and caves. It is not reef safe and should be housed in a tank by itself. It will defend its territory if housed with other species, so it’s best to keep one per tank. The current should be kept moderate, as they are active fish that enjoys swimming around their habitat during most of their day.
What does Golden rhomboidalis wrasse eat?
They are an omnivore, while they have been known to go after meaty foods, they mostly feed on algae and microorganisms in reef environments. Their diets vary by age. As larvae, their diet consists of phytoplankton and zooplankton; as juveniles, they’ll begin eating algae and other crustaceans; as adults, their diet includes zooplankton such as copepods, amphipods, and isopods.
Water parameters
The ideal water should have a pH of 8.1, general hardness of around 3°dH, water temperature of 25 to 26°C (77 – 79°F), and a conductivity of 1-3 mmol/L. The rhombo doesn’t seem to mind much whether it lives in freshwater or saltwater and can thrive in both conditions. It isn’t an animal that stays hidden in a rockwork cave though but swims actively around.
If you want to keep one with dwarf shrimp, livebearers such as bleeding heart tetras are a good choice because they don’t grow too large at adult size. Alternatively, guppies are also good for keeping with other fish due to their peaceful nature; however, guppies aren’t recommended for marine setups since they require soft water whereas hard water seems more suitable for marine life.
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse lifespan
The Golden Wrasses have a lifespan of about 8 years.
Parasites and diseases
A reef tank that is not well maintained can have several different parasites and diseases affecting its inhabitants. The best way to avoid them is to have a pristine, healthy aquarium with high-quality fish food and clean water conditions.
All of these factors play a huge role in preventing fish from developing health problems or becoming ill from infections. Some signs that your fish may be suffering from diseases or sickness are loss of appetite, lack of movement, glazed eyes, and an overall unwell appearance.
Some of the diseases that can affect your saltwater tank are Columnaris disease, Vibrio, White Spot Disease, Marine Ich, and Saltwater Ich. There are also parasites that could possibly affect your fish such as velvet, anchor worms, and other external parasites. They might look like they’re doing well but they might be suffering from an illness which is why it’s a good idea to get a second opinion before assuming anything.
Predators
Golden rhomboidalis wrasse is preyed upon by a large number of predators. Juveniles can be eaten by larger fish, such as barracuda, moray eels, and sharks. Larger specimens are themselves preyed upon by many of these larger species, including mackerel sharks and tuna.
Other predators include octopuses, seahorses, and frogfish that wait in ambush for an unwary wrasse to pass by with its extended tail fins protruding from its body.
Do golden rhomboidalis wrasses make good pets?
No, these do not make good pets. The golden rhomboidalis wrasse is often mistaken for its close cousin, or sister fish, red sorority wrasse. While both are very colorful and have striking features like dorsal rays that appear to be a tail fin made out of triangles, only one makes a good pet: red sorority wrasse.
Because of their similarities in appearance, it’s important to know some key differences before making a purchase.