Yellowbreasted Wrasse

The Yellowbreasted Wrasse is a beautiful but notoriously difficult Anampses species that challenges even the most experienced marine aquarists. It displays a dark body covered in fine blue spots and lines, with a distinctive yellow breast area that gives the species its common name. Males develop more intense coloration and may show green and blue highlights across the body.

Like all Anampses wrasses, the Yellowbreasted Wrasse is an extremely challenging species to maintain in captivity due to its specialized feeding requirements. In the wild, these wrasses spend their entire day methodically picking tiny invertebrates and parasites from reef surfaces and live rock. Transitioning them to accept prepared foods in captivity is the primary obstacle, and many specimens slowly decline and starve despite the best efforts of their keepers.

Successful maintenance requires a large, well-established reef aquarium with extensive live rock that supports a healthy population of natural microfauna. Live copepods, amphipods, and other live foods should be available as the wrasse acclimates. Only aquarists with significant experience maintaining delicate species and the resources to provide appropriate conditions should attempt this wrasse. When successfully established, the Yellowbreasted Wrasse is a peaceful, reef-safe species that adds subtle beauty to the aquarium.