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Possum Wrasse
Wrasse

Possum Wrasse

Wetmorella nigropinnata

A tiny, secretive wrasse — the "yellow-banded possum" — that maxes out around 8 cm and spends much of its day tucked in caves and overhangs, darting out to snatch pods and micro-crustaceans. It is utterly peaceful and coral-safe, small enough for a nano, and a lovely subject for a cryptic-zone or refugium-fed reef, though its shyness means it can be outcompeted at feeding time by bolder fish. It may take very small ornamental shrimp, and like all wrasses benefits from a covered tank.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.1"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Caves, Rockwork
Keep one or a bonded pair.
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Tankmates

How Possum Wrasse gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Sixline WrasseThe sixline wrasse is highly territorial toward small, passive newcomers and relentlessly bullies timid fish; the shy possum wrasse gets driven into hiding and can starve.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Possum Wrasse.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Fourline WrasseFourline shares the pugnacious Pseudocheilinus temperament and can harass tiny, shy tankmates like the possum wrasse; watch for it monopolising cover and food.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Threadfin ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Majestic AngelfishMajestic Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Possum Wrasse and may harass it.