{"product_id":"cryptic-wrasse-pteragogus-cryptus","title":"Cryptic Wrasse | Pteragogus cryptus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Cryptic Wrasse is a small, secretive reef wrasse that spends most of its time weaving through soft corals, rubble and algae, rarely staying in open view for long. Growing to only about 9cm, it is a subtly patterned, reddish-brown fish best suited to well-established reef tanks where it can forage undisturbed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDistributed across the Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific, Pteragogus cryptus lives on coral and rocky reefs at depths of roughly 3-55m, hiding among soft coral branches, macroalgae and rubble rather than out on open sand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA slender, small-bodied wrasse with mottled reddish-brown to olive colouration that provides excellent camouflage among algae and soft corals, often with faint darker blotches or bars along the flanks and a pointed snout typical of Pteragogus wrasses. Colouration can vary between individuals and shift subtly with mood and surroundings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGenerally peaceful and unobtrusive towards fish tankmates, though it is a shy, cryptic species that spends much of its time hidden and can be outcompeted for food by bolder fish. It has an opportunistic feeding streak and may pick at small ornamental shrimp and other tiny invertebrates if given the chance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore that hunts small benthic invertebrates in the wild, this wrasse accepts frozen mysis, brine shrimp and other small meaty foods once settled, along with any small invertebrates and pods it finds foraging through live rock and macroalgae.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHouse in a mature reef aquarium of at least 75 litres with a tight-fitting lid, as wrasses of this genus are prone to jumping, plus plenty of live rock, rubble and soft coral or macroalgae cover to allow natural hiding behaviour. Maintain stable reef parameters of 24-26°C, pH 8.1-8.4 and specific gravity 1.020-1.025.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo captive breeding has been documented for this species and all stock available in the aquarium trade is wild-collected. Like other wrasses, it is presumed to be a protogynous hermaphrodite in the wild, but courtship and spawning behaviour have not been recorded in home aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePteragogus cryptus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCryptic Wrasse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-West Pacific (Red Sea to western Pacific)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-6 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (secretive)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75L (20 US gal)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150L (40 US gal) or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1-8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (marine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020-1.025 SG\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Aquariums, FOWLR\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes (may pick at small ornamental shrimp)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest kept with peaceful fish such as gobies, blennies, cardinalfish and other small community fish, alongside corals, macroalgae and larger, more robust invertebrates such as hermit crabs and snails.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid housing with small ornamental shrimp, feather dusters or other delicate invertebrates it may pick at, as well as large, aggressive or predatory fish that could bully or prey on this small, shy wrasse.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55411438551331,"sku":"AA5009-S","price":87.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55411438584099,"sku":"AA5009-M","price":97.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/cryptic-wrasse-pteragogus-cryptus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}