Sling Jaw Wrasse (South Pacific)

Wrasses are prone to jumping from the aquarium when startled or excited so we recommend a secure lid. They feel most secure when there is plenty of live rock to hide in, as well as open space for swimming. Most species may be kept in pairs or harems as long as they are added together or females first. They do not appreciate living with other species of wrasse, so any aquarium with several species must be large enough and the most peaceful species added first.

They should be fed two to three times a day plenty of high quality meaty items, frozen Mysis shrimp, krill, chopped seafood, marine algae and Spirulina.

These wrasses are easy to keep and have active personalities. They have big appetites for invertebrates, especially shrimp, as well as other crustaceans, snails, worms including bristleworms, mantis shrimp and starfish among others. They do not bother corals or anemones, but may flip over rocks in their search for food. They may also bully or eat small fish, but are typically nonaggressive with other large fish as long as they have a different shape. Similarly shaped fish are seen as a threat and may be targeted; we do not recommend keeping them with small species such as flasher wrasses.

There is nothing quite like the incredible Sling Jaw wrasse! When feeding this amazing animal can shoot its jaws out like a straw to suck up prey into its mouth. Its jaws may be up to half the length of its body! It is usually available as a rusty yellow female fish, which can brighten its colors when excited. Its color and shape resembles the Giant Gold damselfish. Mature individuals may develop into males, who have a white face with a thin black line through their red eyes, charcoal to olive colored bodies and a bright yellow dorsal and anal fins and a bright orange to lemon saddle on their backs, mimicking a White Cheek tang. Females usually have squared off tails but males have stunning lyre tails. Young juveniles mimic a possum wrasse in color and behavior, but can be told apart by having evenly spaced white stripes. The juveniles' resting color is rusty red but it can change to yellow when blending in with bright decor. The Sling Jaw is easy to keep and will eat almost any type of food. It is a solitary species and prefers to live with different types of fishes. It may even swim with other types of fish such as tangs, consuming small creatures disturbed by the herbivores' foraging. Sling Jaws also hunt co-operatively with other predators like trumpetfish, groupers and goatfish, searching for prey together. It grows to 21 inche and needs an aquarium of at least 180 gallons.