Pixy Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Pixy Wrasse, is a vibrant reef wrasse found across the Indo-Pacific, including the northern half of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, and offshore territories such as Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
• Adults are striking, with a pale body crossed by a bold black stripe from snout to tail, and a golden-yellow tail fin that glows against the darker banding.
• Juveniles look completely different, with bright red bodies scattered with white spots. This dramatic change in appearance makes them easy to confuse with other small wrasses until they mature.
• The black stripe running along the adult body is why it is also known as the Blackstripe Coris.
• Juveniles often mimic small reef fish or colourful debris, which helps them avoid predators when living in shallow rubble and coral patches.
• Like other wrasses, they are protogynous hermaphrodites: all begin life as females, and some transform into males as they grow and become dominant.
• They are active daytime foragers, feeding on benthic invertebrates such as shrimps, crabs, worms, and molluscs, which they dig from rubble and sand.
• Spawning happens in pairs or small groups, usually at dusk, with fertilised eggs drifting away in the currents until hatching.
• The lifespan of the Pixy Wrasse is around 5–7 years, similar to other small-to-medium wrasses.