- Choerodon fasciatus
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Choerodon fasciatus 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Labridae Genus: Choerodon Species: C. fasciatus Binomial name Choerodon fasciatus
(Günther, 1867)Choerodon fasciatus is a Wrasse commonly known as the Harlequin Tusk. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Contents
Appearance
It grows to a size of 30 cm (11 inches) in length. It is a brightly colored marine fish with shades of blue, green, and orange. It contains sharp blue teeth. Those specimens found in Australia generally have better coloration.
Diet
The Harlequin Tusk is a carnivore, eating mostly benthic invertebrates such as echinoderms, crustaceans, molluscs, and worms. In captivity, they will also accept frozen and meaty foods such as brine shrimp, mysis, and shellfish.
Range
It is found in the Indo-west Pacific from the Red Sea to Australia.
In the Aquarium
The Harlequin Tusk is a moderately difficult fish to maintain in captivity. Juveniles can be shy and easily bullied by aggressive tankmates. Adults will be quite aggressive. At a minimum, they should be kept in a 120 gallon tank for a single specimen. It is a semi-aggressive fish and ideal tankmates would include Angels, Tangs, and small Triggers but it is will not tolerate its own kind so only one specimen per tank. They are not reef-safe. Although they will typically not nip at corals or sessile invertebrates, they will attack and consume crabs, hermit crabs, snails, and shrimp.
A reef temperature of 78F-80F is ideal for maintaining the Harlequin Tusk.
References
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2008). "Choerodon fasciatus" in FishBase. December 2008 version.
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