Pudding Wife Wrasse

The Pudding Wife Wrasse is one of the largest and most colorful members of the Halichoeres genus found in the Caribbean. Adults develop a striking combination of blue and yellow coloration across the body, with vivid blue-green lines radiating from the eye and a bright yellow wash over the midsection. Juveniles are quite different in appearance, displaying mottled brown and white coloration that gradually transforms as the fish matures.

In the wild, Pudding Wife Wrasses are commonly found on coral reefs and rocky substrates where they actively forage for small invertebrates, including sea urchins, crabs, and mollusks. Their powerful jaws allow them to crush hard-shelled prey with ease. This foraging behavior makes them effective at controlling certain pest invertebrates in the aquarium but also means they are not safe with ornamental invertebrates.

Due to their large adult size, Pudding Wife Wrasses require spacious aquariums with plenty of swimming room. Like other Halichoeres wrasses, they bury themselves in the sand bed at night to sleep, making a deep sand substrate of at least three inches essential. A well-fitting lid is also critical as these powerful swimmers are capable jumpers. Despite their size, they are generally peaceful toward other fish and make impressive display specimens in large fish-only or FOWLR systems.