Checkerboard Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Checkerboard Wrasse is found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales.
• When it is young, it wears silver with black and reddish bars, and even a “fake eye” on its fin to trick predators.
• As it grows, its scales get painted in a checkerboard pattern—pale squares outlined in green or blue like a tiny reef quilt.
• Some fish shine with extra colours in different places—like a bright blue back in the Red Sea or extra yellow spots near the dorsal fin.
• Its name comes from Latin words meaning “gardeners of the sea” because they dig and turn over sand and coral to find food.
• They live in calm shallow water—like lagoon reefs, surge channels, and reef slopes from 1 to 30 meters deep—often hiding under ledges by day.
• They munch on crunchy reef snacks like snails, shrimps, worms, tiny clams, and even urchins—using their strong teeth to crack them open.
• Like many wrasses, they start life as females and later some change into males—that helps keep reef society in balance.
• They hang out solo or in small groups, usually with one male guarding a few females.
• They spawn in the warmer months—swimming up and releasing eggs into the water where they drift like tiny balloons.
• When it’s night or there’s danger, they disappear fast—burying in the sand to stay safe until morning.
• Some wrasse scientists have discovered that Checkerboard Wrasse can ‘use rocks like tools’ to smash open urchins and clams—pretty clever for a fish!
• They usually live about 5–7 years in the wild, but in aquariums with good care they can sometimes reach 10 years.