{"product_id":"white-spotted-wrasse","title":"White-spotted Wrasse | Anampses melanurus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe White-spotted Wrasse is a beautiful but genuinely challenging wrasse that we can only recommend to experienced marine keepers. Members of the genus Anampses are notoriously difficult to establish and many are lost to starvation, so honesty matters here: this is an expert-only fish. In the right hands it is a striking, active swimmer reaching around 12 cm, but it demands a mature system, a deep sand bed and careful feeding from day one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnampses melanurus is found on Indo-Pacific reefs over rubble and sand near reef structure, where it hunts small invertebrates throughout the day and buries itself in the sand to sleep. A fine, deep sand bed is therefore essential in the aquarium, along with mature live rock rich in microfauna that the fish can pick at. A newly set-up or bare-bottom tank is entirely unsuitable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is dark with a scattering of small pale blue to white spots and a distinctive dark-edged tail, giving a jewelled appearance. The fish swims constantly with the rowing pectoral-fin motion typical of wrasses. Because so many arrive underfed, choose only specimens that are already feeding well, full through the body, alert and free of pinched bellies or damaged fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful, and the main challenge is feeding and stress rather than aggression. It should be kept with calm, non-competitive tank mates that will not out-compete it at feeding time. It is best considered reef safe with caution: it generally leaves corals alone but will eat ornamental shrimp, small crustaceans and fanworms, and may pick at clam mantles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the make-or-break issue. New arrivals often need live foods such as live brine shrimp or live black worms to begin feeding, gradually weaned onto enriched frozen mysis and other small meaty foods offered several times a day. A mature tank with a constant supply of live microfauna in the rock and sand greatly improves the odds of long-term success. Do not attempt this species without the ability to provide frequent, high-quality feeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of 280 L with a deep, fine sand bed and mature live rock. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Stable, pristine water quality and a tight-fitting lid are essential, as this species is a jumper and is sensitive to stress and poor conditions. Best suited to a settled, well-established reef managed by an experienced keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding is not achievable in the home aquarium. Like other wrasses, Anampses species are protogynous hermaphrodites that spawn in the water column, with delicate pelagic larvae requiring specialised planktonic foods beyond home-aquarium capability.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnampses melanurus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhite-spotted Wrasse (Yellowtail Tamarin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific reefs over sand and rubble\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5+ years with excellent care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful but delicate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e280 L with deep sand bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e350 L or larger, mature system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; often needs live foods to start, then enriched frozen mysis\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\u003eMature reef systems kept by experienced aquarists\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with caution (eats shrimp, small crustaceans and fanworms)\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 fish such as small gobies, calm dartfish, flasher and fairy wrasses, and other gentle species in a mature aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or fast-feeding fish that will out-compete it, and with ornamental shrimp, small crustaceans, fanworms and prized clams, which are at risk.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55234151842083,"sku":"BA9195-S","price":90.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55234151874851,"sku":"BA9195","price":105.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55234151907619,"sku":"BA9195-L","price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/white-spotted-wrasse-43090664292643.webp?v=1790306154","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/white-spotted-wrasse","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}