Red Eye Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Red Eye Wrasse occurs in Australia only around Darwin and nearby reefs in the Timor Sea, as well as at Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, and is also distributed through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
• This species is named for its vivid bright red eyes, which stand out against its colourful body pattern.
• Males are highly colourful, showing a combination of turquoise-blue bodies with red to orange highlights on the fins and face, while females and juveniles are smaller and mostly reddish or pinkish.
• Males intensify their colours during courtship, producing a shimmering display when competing for females.
• Like other fairy wrasses, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with individuals beginning life as females and some later transitioning into dominant males.
• Spawning occurs in small groups, usually at dusk, with eggs released into open water where they drift with currents until hatching.
• The Red Eye Wrasse feeds mainly on zooplankton and tiny crustaceans, darting into mid-water to pick off prey items.
• At night, it shelters in reef crevices and may secrete a mucous cocoon to mask its scent from predators.
• Lifespan is estimated at 4–6 years in the wild, though many individuals fall prey to larger predators before reaching this age.
• Natural predators include reef piscivores such as groupers, snappers, and moray eels.
• It is very popular in the marine aquarium trade thanks to its manageable size and brilliant colours, although it requires a covered tank because it is prone to jumping.