False-eyed Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The False-eyed Wrasse lives across northern and eastern Australia—from WA’s northwest reefs through the Great Barrier Reef to New South Wales, and around Lord Howe Island.
• You’ll spot two big black spots on its dorsal fin that look like eyes—these “false eyes” trick predators and help protect it.
• Females and younger fish wear bright orange and blue stripes with the false-eye spots. As they change to males, they develop greenish-brown and red stripes and lose the spots.
• Juveniles also show the false-eye markings so they look like a tougher fish—younger fish copy that disguise too.
• They live on reef slopes, coral rubble, and mixed sandy areas where coral meets rock, down to around 35 m (about three stories deep).
• These wrasses hunt invertebrates like shrimp, worms, and small molluscs found in cracks and crevices.
• They are protogynous hermaphrodites—every fish starts life as a female, and some change into males later on.
• They often appear in small groups, with one dominant male and several females.
• When it’s time to spawn, pairs swim upward together and release eggs and sperm into the water to drift away in the ocean currents.
• Research shows they grow quickly and can double their numbers in just over a year, making them resilient on healthy reefs.
• They are peaceful fish, a favourite for divers who know how to spot them—it’s like seeing a tiny rainbow hiding among rocks!
• False-eyed Wrasses usually live about 6–8 years on the reef, and well-kept aquarium fish often reach 4–7 years.