{"product_id":"femininus-wrasse","title":"Femininus Wrasse | Anampses femininus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Femininus Wrasse is one of the most beautiful and sought-after wrasses in the hobby, with striking blue and orange striping on a dark body. It is also, in all honesty, an expert-only fish. Reaching around 24 cm, this Anampses wrasse is notoriously difficult to establish and has a poor survival record in captivity, so it should only be attempted by very experienced keepers able to meet its demanding needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike most reef wrasses, the Femininus Wrasse comes from cooler, subtropical waters of the south-western Pacific, including south-eastern Australia, Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia and around New Zealand and Easter Island. It forages over rubble and sand at moderate depth, sifting the substrate for tiny invertebrates. Recreating this means a large, mature aquarium with a deep sand bed for burying, pristine water and a rich supply of live microfauna. A newly set-up or sparse tank is entirely unsuitable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a spectacular fish. The body is deep blue to blackish, overlaid with fine electric-blue and orange lines, and females and males differ in the intensity and arrangement of colour. It swims constantly with the characteristic wrasse rowing motion and dives into the sand to sleep or when alarmed. Because condition can decline rapidly, only a bright, well-fed, full-bodied specimen that is already feeding should be considered, and even then acclimation must be handled with great care.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful to mildly semi-aggressive. The bigger challenge is not aggression but fragility, so it should be kept with calm, non-competitive tank mates that will not stress it or outcompete it for food. It is reef safe with caution: it will leave corals alone but will hunt and eat small ornamental shrimp, tiny crabs, worms and other small mobile invertebrates. Keep it in a settled system where it can establish without pressure from boisterous fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the make-or-break issue with this species. Many refuse prepared foods at first and must be tempted with live brine shrimp, live blackworm or a thriving population of pods on live rock and a deep sand bed. Once feeding, transition it gradually onto frozen mysis, enriched brine and finely chopped seafood offered several times a day. A tank with an established sand bed and abundant natural microfauna dramatically improves the odds of long-term success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 340 L, with 470 L or larger recommended, including a deep, fine sand bed for burying. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C (it tolerates the cooler end of this range well), pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Immaculate, stable water quality is essential, as this fish declines quickly when conditions slip. A tight-fitting lid is a must, as Anampses wrasses are strong jumpers. This is an expert-level species that punishes any shortcut in husbandry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding is not achieved in the home aquarium. Like other wrasses, Anampses species are protogynous hermaphrodites and broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column, and their delicate pelagic larvae cannot be reared without specialised facilities. The only realistic goal for the keeper is the considerable achievement of maintaining a healthy, feeding adult over the long term.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnampses femininus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFemininus Wrasse (Blue-striped Orange Tamarin Wrasse)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubtropical south-western Pacific; SE Australia, Lord Howe, New Caledonia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 years with expert care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful to mildly semi-aggressive; delicate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e340 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e470 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; often needs live foods to begin feeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°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 for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert keepers with large, mature, sand-bedded systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with caution (eats small mobile invertebrates)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include peaceful, non-competitive reef fish such as calm tangs, flasher and fairy wrasses, gobies, cardinalfish and other gentle species that will not stress it or steal its food.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or boisterous fish, fast greedy feeders that outcompete it, and small ornamental shrimp, tiny crabs and worms that it will hunt.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234147320099,"sku":"BA8021-S","price":1130.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234147352867,"sku":"BA8021","price":1299.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234147385635,"sku":"BA8021-L","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-24cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351948902691,"sku":"BA8021-XL","price":1720.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562732798243,"sku":"BA8021-S-IMP","price":1130.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562732831011,"sku":"BA8021-M-IMP","price":1299.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562732863779,"sku":"BA8021-L-IMP","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-24cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562732896547,"sku":"BA8021-XL-IMP","price":1720.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/femininus-wrasse-43090661310755.webp?v=1790306126","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/femininus-wrasse","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}