Rockmover Wrasse (Dragon Wrasse)

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Indo-Pacific Ocean. Frequents coral rubble (rubble zone), detrital coastlines and shallow lagoons where constant currents mix rocks and coarse sand.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Dragon Wrasse / Rockmover Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus). Formidable and robust wrasse. The name "Rockmover" fits it perfectly: it has a jaw conformation that allows it to literally move huge stones.

Social Behavior: The tireless excavator. Wanders the tank in constant search of hidden crustaceans: flips over stones (as heavy as he is), uproots corals and raises clouds of sand in search of food. At night it sinks under the sand (Diving).

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Radical change (from Dragon to Stone). Juveniles are stunning aliens (Dragon wrasse): brown with white spots and two immense flexuous horns on the head ("antennae"). As an adult (Rockmover), the horns disappear, the body becomes gray-green with each scale edged in light and the head flattens.

Aquarium Setup: Destructible aquarium (minimum 150 cm / 60 inches / 100G for adult). Mandatory: the rockwork MUST be glued and resting on the base glass. It will throw corals in the air. Mandatory 10 cm (4 inches) of thick sand mixed with rubble to let him unearth stones and sleep buried.

Diet and Feeding: Macro-benthic predator (Carnivore shredder). Destroys any shell. Eats crabs, shrimp, hermit crabs, mussels, bristle worms, snails and urchins. In the tank it must be fed with whole seafood in the shell (clams, shrimp) to file its powerful teeth.

Water Quality: Pollutes heavily due to its "dirty" diet based on pieces of fish and the continuous suspension of debris from the bottom it digs. Oversized Skimmer essential.

Compatibility and Tankmates: NOT Reef Safe for Invertebrates. Will devour every single snail or cleaner crustacean bought at a high price. Rude but not murderous with large fish (Angels, Tangs); will avoid small fish (it is not a pure piscivore, prefers crustaceans).

Aquarium Reproduction: Totally absent. Oceanic pelagic breeder. There are no reports in closed systems, also due to the impossibility of hosting multiple mature adults without them attacking each other for territory.

Risks and Diseases: Smashed Glass. The adult Rockmover has the bad habit of lifting pebbles and "slamming" them sideways. If it does this against the thin side glass, it can literally crack the tank. Insert only huge and heavy rocks (immovable) or clean sand, eliminating intermediate-sized stones.