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Radiant Wrasse
Wrasse

Radiant Wrasse

Halichoeres iridis

A western Indian Ocean Halichoeres with a sharply two-tone body — bright orange forward, dark purple-black behind, with blue face markings — which is why it also travels under the name Dark Side Wrasse. It sleeps buried in the substrate, so it needs a fine open sand bed of at least 5 cm; it will not settle in a bare-bottom or crushed-coral tank. Newly imported specimens are the hard part: they often refuse prepared food for the first weeks and need live foods and an established rock surface to graze, which is why LiveAquaria rates it expert-only despite it being peaceful and reef-safe once settled. Small ornamental shrimp and tiny snails are not safe with a grown one, and it jumps.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
4.5"
Min tank
60 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork, Sand bed
Keep one male with several females in a large tank.
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Tankmates

How Radiant 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.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Melanurus WrasseRadiant Wrasse and Melanurus Wrasse are the same genus (Halichoeres) and will fight — keep only one.Yellow Coris WrasseRadiant Wrasse and Yellow Coris Wrasse are the same genus (Halichoeres) and will fight — keep only one.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Tiger Pistol ShrimpRadiant Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Porcupine PufferPorcupine Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Lunare WrasseLunare Wrasse (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.

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 Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Christmas WrasseThe Christmas Wrasse is one of the more aggressive Halichoeres and grows pushier with age, while the Radiant Wrasse is a peaceful one. Only combine in a large tank, and add the Radiant first.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.