juvenile four spot yellow wrasse

Kaizen Reef Name: Me-Wrasse
Common name: Four spot yellow wrasse
Scientific name: Halichoeres Trispilus

Physical description: When juvenile (above photo) they are yellow bodied with three spots on their dorsal fin and a forth spot located on the caudal fin. Adults develop white on their bodies, can grow up to 4′ and lose a lot of their bright yellow they have as juveniles.

Diet: Our wrasse would eat Spurulina flake but really preferred meaty foods like frozen mysis shrimp and tiger shrimp.

Important dates:
7/17/09: Added to the tank
9/14/09: Returned to fish store

Update: We had to return Me-Wrasse to the fish store when we added our baby clownfish. He and the damselfish would not leave the babies alone and continued to bully and nip. Clownfish have always been our primary focus for reef pets, they are much more peaceful with no aggression in a properly selected community tank.

Personal notes: We have not sexed him but refer to him as a male specimen. He was the first fish introduced into our tank and has made friends with the damselfish. They are the only fish in the tank right now and really enjoy playing together. He is a very timid fish hiding in the substrate whenever he is frightened. He sleeps in the substrate every night in the exact same spot (video here). He steals food from the other fishes and during feeding will direct pieces of food into his secret corner so he has food for later.