About Rainbow Wrasse
Rainbow wrasse with iridescent flanks and a deeply-forked tail. Active sand-sleeper — needs a deep sand bed for nightly burrowing. Will sample small ornamental shrimp; safer with mature corals than with delicate inverts.
Halichoeres iridis is a species of wrasse native to the western Indian Ocean along the African coast and nearby islands. It can be found in areas of rubble and sand around reefs at depths from 6 to 43 m. This species can reach 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in total length. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Slender wrasse with iridescent purple-and-orange flanks and a deeply forked tail. Active mid-water swimmer.
In your tank. Active sand-sleeper — needs a deep sand bed (2+ inches) for nightly burrowing. Will sample small ornamental shrimp and tiny inverts; safer with corals than with delicate inverts.
Care notes. Reef-compatible with caution. Add to systems with established cleanup crew rather than fragile invert displays. Jumper — tight-fitting lid required.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from western Indian Ocean reefs; mid-priced ($50–100). Carnivore — mysis, brine, small pellets.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 218997).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) Georgina Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC-BY-SA (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).