Canary Top Wrasse - Medium

The Canary Top Wrasse has a bright yellow body. The head normally has an orange hue and there is a spot behind the eye, and the head can have irregular light-green bands.

Males have a large black, white-rimmed spot in the dorsal area (smaller males may have another spot on the soft portion between the second and third rays). Females have a second black, light yellow-rimmed spot; smaller females and juveniles have a third blackish spot on near the tail fin.

They are found all over the Indo-Pacific region from South Japan In the North, all around the bay of Bengal in the West, and as far South and East as New South Wales in Australia.

Tank Recommendations for a Canary Top Wrasse

The smallest tank size is for these wrasse is 120 litres. Water movement is appreciated by this wrasse and they like to sleep or bury themselves when they feel threatened. So a layer of substrate around 7-10cm thick is recommended.

They are just as happy in a reef environment as they are in a fish only tank, but live rock in a non reef tank helps with their feeding habits.

The Canary Top Wrasse, like most other wrasse will jump out of your tank, so ensuring there is a properly fitting cover is recommended.

Suitable Tank Buddies

As with most wrasses, Canary Top Wrasse males will be aggressive towards other males. The best combination would be one male, a couple of females and some juveniles. These placid wrasses are easy to find compatible tank mates for; just make sure they don't get eaten and they'll be okay.

Usually Compatible

The Canary Top Wrasse has a calm demeanor and is rarely aggressive to other fish. Large Angelfish, Boxfish, Damselfish, Clownfish, and Tangs/Surgeons are all good tankmates.

Sometime Compatible

Adding other wrasse is okay, but males with other males should be avoided as they are likely to be aggressive toward each other. Females together do not have this issue and so a few females can be kept together with a single male.

Rarely Compatible

Seahorses and Pipefish as they have similar feeding habits, but are much slower. This means that they would be likely to starve and so shouldn't be housed with your wrasse. Sharks or Rays should also be avoided as they will view your wrasse as a meal and hunt it.

Feeding your Canary Top Wrasse

This fish is a carnivore, so they eat a variety of small meaty foods, including chopped meats, live shrimp, foraminiferans, amphipods, and worms.

They can also feed fairly well on plankton. If there is live rock in the aquarium they will feed on any attached copepods. Flake food and pellets can be occasionally offered if introduced early enough.