Harlequin Tusk Fish

The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse, *Choerodon fasciatus*, is a truly stunning and highly sought-after fish for the marine aquarium. Its vibrant coloration, featuring alternating bands of bright blue and orange-yellow across its body, makes it an undeniable showstopper. The prominent “tusks” or canine teeth are a defining characteristic and give this fish its common name.

A minimum tank size of 125 gallons is recommended for the Harlequin Tusk Wrasse to provide ample swimming space and accommodate its potential adult size of up to 10 inches in captivity. A sandy substrate is beneficial as they may occasionally bury themselves, especially when startled or sleeping. Plenty of live rock with numerous hiding places is essential to provide security and mimic their natural reef environment. While generally peaceful towards most fish, they can be aggressive towards smaller, passive invertebrates such as ornamental shrimp, crabs, and snails, and may nip at sessile invertebrates like corals and clams. Therefore, they are best kept in a fish-only or FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) aquarium.

The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse is a carnivore and requires a varied diet of meaty foods. Offer a mix of high-quality marine pellets, frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill, and chopped seafood like squid and fish. Feeding several times a day is recommended.

There are no readily apparent visual differences between male and female Harlequin Tusk Wrasses, and breeding in a home aquarium is extremely difficult. This species is known to be hardy and relatively disease-resistant once acclimated to the aquarium environment.