Why has my Red Coris Wrasse completely disappeared?

These wrasses bury themselves completely in the sand to sleep at night or when they feel stressed. It is entirely normal for a newly added fish to stay buried for days. Never dig them up, as this causes immense stress.

Can I keep a Red Coris Wrasse in a reef tank?

It is highly discouraged. While they might not eat your corals directly, they will eat your entire clean-up crew (snails, crabs, shrimp) and will flip over unattached corals and rocks while hunting for food.

When do they change from their juvenile to adult colours?

The transition usually begins when the fish reaches around 7 to 10 cm in length. The bright orange body starts to darken, and the white saddles fade away, replaced by the characteristic adult blue spots.

Why is my wrasse flipping over all my rocks?

This is a natural hunting behaviour. In the wild, they overturn coral rubble and rocks to find hidden crabs and worms. You must ensure your rockwork is securely glued or rests on the tank's base to prevent a structural collapse.

MarineMarineIntermediate

Red Coris Wrasse

Coris gaimard

A vibrant, highly active marine fish famous for its dramatic transformation from a bright orange juvenile into a stunning, speckled adult.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.02 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 35 – 40 cm
Minimum 600 litres for a fully grown adult: 600 litres+
Lifespan: 7 – 15 years
Diet: Carnivore
Water flow: Moderate to high
Preferred setup: Requires a deep, fine sand bed (at least 7-10 cm) for sleeping and hiding. Rockwork must be glued or securely seated on the tank base, not the sand, to prevent collapse.

About the Red Coris Wrasse

The Red Coris Wrasse (*Coris gaimard*) is a show-stopping addition to a large marine aquarium. Juveniles are striking with their bright orange bodies and white, black-edged saddles, but the adult colouration is arguably even more magnificent, featuring a red-to-brown body speckled with bright blue spots and a brilliant yellow tail. They are highly active and endlessly entertaining, but their large adult size and penchant for rearranging the tank require careful planning.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Red Coris Wrasse comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Hawaii

Countries / regions

Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Fiji, United States

Habitat

Exposed outer reef flats, seaward reefs, and sandy lagoons with abundant coral rubble.

Widely distributed across tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific basin.

Similar species

Formosa Wrasse
Coris formosa
African Coris
Coris cuvieri
Twinspot Wrasse
Coris aygula

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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Emperor Angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
Large, robust marine fish that can hold their own in a fish-only system and occupy different niches.
Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Active, peaceful-to-semi-aggressive herbivores that ignore the bottom-dwelling wrasse's hunting behaviours.
Great
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
While smaller, other wrasses may become the target of territorial aggression if the Red Coris feels crowded.
Compatible with caution
Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Will be viewed as food by an adult Red Coris Wrasse, which naturally hunts crustaceans.
Not recommended
Turbo Snails
Turbo fluctuosus
The wrasse has specialised teeth for crushing shells and will rapidly decimate any clean-up crew.
Not recommended

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