Last updated on June 26th, 2022 at 04:12 am
It is unknown to which color the Yellowtail Coris Wrasse, or the Red Coris Wrasse belongs since both species are the same. So, are they red or yellow? We’ll know as we dig more into this species profile.
The red coris wrasse, also known as coris gaimard, yellowtail coris, African coris, red labrid, or clown wrasse fish, makes a perfect aquarium pet. It comes in yellow, orange, and red color variations, but the red coris wrasse is the most popular choice by hobbyists and aquarists alike. With an average size of 6-8 inches, this small fish can fit easily into any small to medium sized aquariums and can be kept with other non-aggressive fish species.
The yellowtail coris is one of the most common coral reef fish you’ll find in the Indo-Pacific region. Their bright red color makes them a particularly attractive fish to humans, who often take them home as saltwater aquarium fish. Although they are popular with hobbyists, there are some risks involved with keeping them as pets that you should know about before acquiring this type of coris wrasse. You can read more here to decide if this species of fish would be right for your saltwater aquarium at home.
Aquarists love this fish for its bright red, orange, or yellow body color and beautiful stripes, but there’s more to the red coris wrasse than its good looks. Like all coris wrasses, the red coris wrasse is a great cleaner fish in an aquarium setting, taking care of any parasites you may have on your other marine life. The red coris wrasse will also get along well with other members of the same species, so you can keep multiple of them in one tank if you like.
Origin and descriptions
Red coris wrasse, also called yellowtail coris, is a colorful reef fish. This species of wrasse is native to tropical reefs in Indian and Pacific oceans, although occasionally, its reaches may be seen as far north as Japan. Red coris wrasse was first identified by Lacepede in 1801. It has an oval-shaped body that can grow up to 8 inches long.
It has a bright red dorsal fin with black spots on it, and its tail is yellow with red spots on it. These two features are what give it its name: red for its coloration and coris for being related to other members of the genus Coris.
Species profile
The red coris wrasse belongs to the family Labridae and is part of a genus of fish called coris. Coris gaimard, also known as red coris wrasse, is a species of fish that is native to coral reefs in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the world. This species has been introduced into other areas, including some areas where it is not native.
It grows up to 8 inches long and may live for 20 years or more. The red coris wrasse has an oval-shaped body with a brownish-red coloration with yellow vertical stripes. Its fins are yellow with black spots on them, except for its caudal fin.
They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they start their lives as females but can change sex later on if necessary.
Scientific name
The scientific name of the red coris wrasse is Coris gaimard
Habitat
Red coris wrasse is a wide-ranging species that can be found in tropical to temperate waters. The species is widespread in the Indo-Pacific and Hawaiian Regions, and all the way to the Red Sea. The preferred temperature range for red coris wrasse is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
They have been found at depths of 5 to 140 feet below sea level, so if you’re looking for them in your aquarium, consider one with soft lighting, as well as plenty of rocky surfaces and crevices for hiding spots. Although red coris wrasse are tolerant of various water conditions, they prefer slightly acidic water around pH 7.8 or lower.
In addition to live rock or coral rubble, they should also have some floating plants like Cryptocoryne wendtii or Alternanthera reineckii, which provide additional cover and nutrients while providing oxygen through photosynthesis.
Red coris wrasse size
In captivity, this species can grow up to 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) with good care and proper water parameters.
Tank size
Due to their size, red coris wrasse requires a minimum tank size of around 100 gallons (379 liters) or larger with a sandy bottom.
Tank requirements
The Red Coris Wrasse requires at least a 100 gallon tank with plenty of room to swim and hide. It is important to use at least a 30-40 pound LR, coarse or crushed coral sand substrate, as well as plenty of live rock for hiding places. The Red Coris Wrasse is not aggressive and will share a tank with other non-aggressive fish species.
It can tolerate water temperatures between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as you do regular water changes. A protein skimmer is recommended to keep your water clean and healthy. Other invertebrates should be added if possible; in fact, it’s likely that some of these may be introduced into your tank along with live rock.
Yellowtail coris wrasses are planktivores and should be fed brine shrimp or mysis shrimp several times per week; they should also be given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A & D3 daily to maintain good health.
Tank mates
Few reef fish are compatible with wrasses, as most are carnivorous. Lionfish do not eat corals or small invertebrates, but they will readily consume any other fish in your tank. Other good options include angelfish, Clownfish, blennies, Hawkfish, Butterfly fish, Boxfish, Rabbitfish, and cardinalfish species, which are a bit less aggressive than lionfish and thus more suitable for smaller tanks and living in a community tank of fishes without much space between them.
Breeding
The red coris wrasse is monandric protogynous hermaphrodite. This means that it starts its life as a female, but can become male if the dominant male dies. It will revert back to being female after breeding or can continue to remain male. These fish require an aquarium of at least 100 gallons with plenty of live rock and caves for hiding and spawning sites.
The yellowtail coris wrasse are quite easy to breed in captivity. They are egg layers and should be kept in pairs. They should be conditioned on a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, table shrimp, and other meaty foods before introducing them into your breeding tank.
The eggs are normally laid over a flat surface such as a piece of slate or coral skeleton where they adhere to each other. Eggs hatch within some days and once hatched, they become free swimming in another three days.
At first they feed off their yolk sacs until they can start feeding off small planktonic organisms in their environment. The fry should be fed rotifers followed by baby brine shrimp nauplii once they have outgrown their yolk sacs.
Are they aggressive or peaceful?
They are docile and peaceful as juveniles, but may become aggressive and territorial as adults. Though they can also be trained to become quite docile. This makes them an excellent choice for a home aquarium. Some experts say that, if treated with care and respect, coris wrasses will even let you pick them up without fighting back!
Red coris wrasse care
What makes coris gaimard so unique is its ability to adapt. It is one of few fish that can survive in both saltwater and freshwater, so it’s no surprise they live in both. They are typically found in shallow reefs, tide pools, and mangroves at depths ranging from 1-15 feet. To survive changing conditions between fresh and salt water, coris gaimard have special cells that can secrete excess salts through a process called ionoregulation.
This adaptation allows them to maintain their internal electrolyte balance even when there is a drastic change in salinity. In addition, coris gaimard are also able to control their blood pH levels by adjusting how much oxygen they take into their bodies.
Red coris wrasse diet
The red coris wrasse is a carnivore; it’s diet consists of squid, fish, shrimp and crabs. They eat tiny invertebrates called copepods that live in coral reef waters. Copepods are a major food source for many other reef fish and other marine creatures, which means that coris wrasse play an important role in keeping their ecosystem healthy by recycling nutrients. They also have large mouths designed to grab and consume large prey items.
Red coris wrasse lifespan
Their average lifespan is 5 years in a good environment.
Parasites and diseases
Red coris wrasse are susceptible to a variety of parasites and diseases that can lead to early death. Some of these include bacterial infections, septicemia, parasite infestations, ichthyophthirius multifiliis, fungi or fungi-like infections, marine velvet or white spot disease and ciguatera poisoning. Although many of these parasites and diseases affect humans as well as fish, humans are usually not affected by them due to our immunity.
Predators
In its natural habitat, coris gaimard face many different predators. There are many species of fish that prey on them, as well as a variety of marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. Some of the common predators are tiger sharks, dusky sharks, bull sharks, eagle rays, barracudas and moray eels. Humans also pose a threat to coris gaimard because it is a common fish for aquariums.
Do they make good pets?
The Red Coris wrasse make an excellent addition to any saltwater tank. They have a very active and playful personality and can be trained to perform in a very similar manner as other corals fish. The interesting thing about these wrasses is that they will consume algae off of your live rock, giving them an extra benefit for those who are trying to lower their nutrient levels within their aquariums.
They are species of saltwater fish that is highly popular in saltwater aquariums. These fish are only sold when they are young, as they are likely to die if they become too large for their home tank. If you’re looking for a fish to add to your saltwater aquarium, then you might consider purchasing a Red Coris wrasse!