Why has my new Christmas Wrasse disappeared?

It is completely normal for this species to bury itself in the sand bed for several days when first introduced to a new tank due to stress or acclimatisation. Do not dig around for it; it will emerge when it feels secure.

Is the Christmas Wrasse safe to keep with corals?

Yes, they are generally reef-safe regarding corals and will not eat polyps. However, they may knock over small, unattached coral frags while vigorously hunting for pests in the rockwork.

Will a Christmas Wrasse eat my shrimp?

They pose a high risk to very small or delicate species like Sexy Shrimp. Larger ornamental shrimp like mature Skunk Cleaners are usually safe, especially if they are established in the tank before the wrasse is introduced.

Can I keep a Christmas Wrasse in a bare-bottom tank?

No. A soft sand bed of at least 5 cm is absolutely mandatory. Without it, the wrasse cannot perform its natural sleeping behaviour and will suffer from severe stress and potentially fatal physical trauma from hitting the glass bottom.

Do they really eat flatworms?

Yes, they are highly regarded in the hobby for their voracious appetite for nuisance flatworms, though individual tastes can vary slightly from fish to fish.

MarineMarineIntermediate

Christmas Wrasse

Halichoeres claudia

A remarkably colourful and lively reef-dwelling wrasse, highly valued in the marine aquarium hobby for its natural ability to consume nuisance pests.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 14 – 22 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 10 – 12 cm
250 Litres: 250 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 7 years
Diet: Carnivore
Water flow: Moderate to strong
Preferred setup: Deep sand bed (minimum 5-7 cm) and live rock with ample swimming space.

About the Christmas Wrasse

Halichoeres claudia is a striking species from the Indo-Pacific, widely celebrated in the trade as the Christmas Wrasse due to its vibrant, festive red and green colouration. For decades, it was misidentified in the aquarium hobby as the Hawaiian species H. ornatissimus, until it was recognised and described as a distinct species in 2009. These wrasses are incredibly active, constantly patrolling the live rock during daylight hours in search of small invertebrate prey.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Christmas Wrasse against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Christmas Wrasse comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific

Countries / regions

Australia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Vanuatu

Habitat

Shallow coral and rocky reefs interspersed with necessary sandy patches for foraging and sleeping.

Replaces the closely related H. ornatissimus in the western and central Pacific.

Similar species

Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
Ornate Wrasse
Halichoeres ornatissimus
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Halichoeres chrysus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Occupies a completely different niche and size; their active but peaceful nature complements the wrasse perfectly.
Great
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Stays largely near its territory or host, avoiding the benthic hunting grounds and pathways of the active wrasse.
Great
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Often ignored if added to the tank before the wrasse, but large wrasses may occasionally harass or predate on them during a moult.
Compatible with caution
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
May exhibit territorial aggression toward other wrasses occupying similar rocky niches; requires a very large tank to cohabit peacefully.
Compatible with caution
Sexy Shrimp
Thor amboinensis
Tiny ornamental crustaceans are viewed as a natural food source by Halichoeres wrasses and will almost certainly be eaten.
Not recommended

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