Reindeer Wrasse

This edition of FIN is focussing on the aptly timed and festive, Reindeer Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus). This wrasse belongs in the family Labridae and is mainly found in coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region. 

The Reindeer Wrasse is a beautiful fish, growing to a maximum size of approx. 12 inches in length and has an oblong, laterally compressed body and a wedge-shaped head. Their head is scaleless except for two scales on the upper part of the gill coverings and an almost vertical row of small scales behind each eye. However, the most obvious characteristic that gives these fish their common name is only present when the fish are juveniles; being their distinctive long ‘antlers’ (these are formed by the elongation of the first rays of the dorsal fin).

One interesting fact about this wonderful fish is, whilst being highly territorial, adults are mostly found in pairs and work closely together over their large section of a reef to form a remarkably effective team! The team 'tactics' are simple; one fish turns or shifts large pieces of debris and rock-rubble by either grabbing or pulling at it with its mouth, or pushing it with its snout. When the 'mover' of the team has revealed the prey, the other team member quickly grabs and eats it. Then, once the 'eater' has had its fill, the roles are reversed so that the 'mover' then becomes the 'eater' and so on… (interestingly the juveniles do not usually work in pairs, doing all the work themselves). 

And like all wrasse, when a Reindeer Wrasse faces danger, they quickly dive and bury themselves into the sand to escape for protection. Additionally, when juvenile, the distinctive colour form also allows the fish to resemble algae and therefore potentially avoid any danger by mimicking the movements of detached, drifting seaweed by swaying back and forth in the currents! 

For more info on how to keep these fish in an aquarium, please visit: http://fishkeeper.co.uk/site/databank/dragon-wrasse-rockmover-wrasse-