Yellow & Purple / Canarytop Wrasse (Halichoeres leucoxanthus)

The Yellow & Purple Wrasse is also known as the White or Four Spot wrasse, and originates from the invertebrate-rich waters of Sri Lanka. The Juvenile form is yellow and white/purple in coloration. The top half of the fish is yellow, while the lower half is white to purple. As the fish matures, the yellow coloration is lost to a beautiful pink coloration. Exercise caution if including this species into a reef aquarium, as it may feed upon feather dusters, ornamental shrimp and other similar invertebrates.

The Yellow &; Purple Wrasse requires a 50-gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock and a few inch deep sand bed which it will use for hiding and grazing. This species is a known jumper, and a tight fitting canopy is a must. It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. In addition, it may also eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. However, they should not bother polyps, mushrooms or corals.

The Yellow &; Purple Wrasse wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food.

Approximate Purchase Size: Juvenile Small: 1" to 2"; Sub-Adult Medium: 2" to 3"; Adult Large: 3" to 4"

Care details

• Temperature: 72 - 78° F
• dKH: 8 - 12
• Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
• Color: Purple, Yellow and White
• Family: Labridae
• Diet: Carnivore