Yellow Black Tube Lip Wrasse Medium

The Yellowback Tubelip Wrasse goes through a series of colour changes as it matures. Juveniles are black with thin white-coloured lines running along the body. Their next stage of development is becoming initial stage females. At this point, they become bluer, mainly around the head and caudal region. When triggered by social cues the biggest dominant female will change sex and become male. The lines on their body will become yellow and dotted and a yellow patch appears above the pectoral fin. They also have blue lines on their face and mouth.

There is limited information about this species breeding habits. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and oviparous.

This species is native to the Indian Ocean and Western-Pacific. Locations include East Africa, Japan, Samoa, and the Great Barrier Reef. It can be found in seaward reefs and lagoons, in areas with an abundance of coral. Usually between depths of 8-30 metres.

Tank Recommendations for your Yellowback Tubelip Wrasse

The smallest tank size should be 60 gallons (227.1 litres) capacity.

The Yellowback Tubelip Wrasse is unsuitable for a reef tank unless it only has soft corals. It will consume stony coral polyps, so usually, it is better in a fish only tank. There should be plenty of rockwork and crevices for sleeping.

This species is known to jump so a secure aquarium lid is recommended.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Yellowback Tubelip Fairy Wrasse is a peaceful fish. It is best suited to cohabiting with peaceful tank mates.

Avoid bigger predatory fish that may intimidate it.

Usually Compatible

Suitable tank buddies include Chromis, Butterflyfish, Clownfish, and Blennies.

Sometime Compatible

Care should be taken with large Angelfish and Tangs, Pufferfish, Triggerfish, and invertebrates.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid Sharks and Rays, Eels, Anglerfish/Frogfish, and Groupers. Seahorses and smaller timid fish are unsuitable tank buddies.

Feeding your Yellowback Tubelip Wrasse

One of the reasons this species is not seen very often in the aquarium trade is because of its diet. It can be described as carnivorous, but in the wild, adults are mainly corallivorous. They suck the mucus off coral polyps, and it may not be possible to sustain them on other foods in an aquarium. Other foods it may consume include clams, crustacean flesh, marine fish, and invertebrates. They should be fed twice per day.