🐟 Red Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)
🐟 Red Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard)
Reef Sand Turner • Invertebrate Hunter • Color-Changing Wrasse • Active Swimmer
📋 The Red Coris Wrasse (Coris gaimard) is a reef favorite known for its dramatic color transformation. Juveniles are bright orange-red with white spots, while adults become deep red with blue spots and a yellow tail — earning it the name “Yellowtail Coris.”
Highly active and intelligent, this wrasse spends its day foraging through sand and rocks for small invertebrates. It requires fine sand for burrowing, as it sleeps buried at night or when startled.
Ideal for large, mature reef or FOWLR aquariums, the Red Coris adds movement, color, and personality — but should not be housed with delicate crustaceans or very small tankmates.
💡 Highlights
✨ Color-changing beauty: vivid juvenile and adult stages
⚪ Sand burrower: hides and sleeps beneath fine substrate
📏 Active swimmer: constantly foraging for small prey
✅ Ideal for large aquariums: thrives in stable, open systems
🐠 Long-lived species: can reach 10 years with proper care
🧾 A Quick Look at the Red Coris Wrasse
📛 Common Name: Red Coris Wrasse / Yellowtail Coris / Clown Wrasse
🔬 Scientific Name: Coris gaimard
👨👩👧 Family: Labridae
🌍 Origin: Indo-Pacific • Fiji • Hawaii • Indonesia • Great Barrier Reef
📏 Max Size: 25 cm (≈ 10")
💧 pH Range: 8.0 – 8.4
🌡️ Temperature Range: 24 – 28 °C (75 – 82 °F)
🧠 Care Level: Intermediate
💖 Temperament: Semi-aggressive • Active
🪸 Reef Safe: ⚠️ With caution – may eat snails, shrimp, or crabs
🏠 Min Tank Size: 300 L (79 US gallons)
📌 Tank Level: Bottom to mid-level; sleeps under sand
🧬 Captive Bred: ❌ No
🌿 Wild Caught: ✅ Yes – sustainably sourced from Indo-Pacific reefs
⏳ Lifespan: 5 – 10 years
🍽️ Diet: Carnivore (meaty foods • crustaceans • worms)
🐣 Reproduction: Egg scatterer; not bred in captivity
