Elegant Coris Wrasse

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago. Inhabits shallow rocky shores, reef flats, and lagoons with sandy patches at depths of 1 to 20 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the family Labridae, genus Coris. Features an elongated and compressed body. Reaches a maximum length of 20 cm.

Social Behavior: Active diurnal species. Known for flipping small rocks and coral rubble to find hidden prey. Dives into the sand bed for protection.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Complex stripe pattern consisting of yellow, green, and red stripes. Spawning males develop a darker body color and highly intricate fuchsia and light-blue facial markings.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 300 liters. A deep sand bed (6-8 cm) of soft sand is vital for sleeping. A secure lid is mandatory to prevent jumps.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous. Feeds on benthic crustaceans and mollusks. Accepts mysis, brine shrimp, krill, and prepared pellets. Feed 2-3 times daily.

Water Quality: Maintain stable conditions: temperature 23-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.025. Strong mechanical filtration is recommended.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Reef safe with caution. May flip unattached corals and consume small shrimps and snails. House with larger, active tankmates.

Aquarium Breeding: Protogynous hermaphrodite. Pelagic spawners. Spawning in captive environments is undocumented.

Risks and Diseases: Prone to snout damage if kept without proper sandy substrate. Sensitive to elevated nitrate levels.