This marine aquarium fish is known as
Checkerboard Wrasse and the correct latin name is
Halichoeres hortulanus. It belongs to the
Wrasses family. (
e) It's origin is
Indian Ocean. (
e)
Character and suggestions regarding care
Even this fish is peaceful, it can’t be kept by newbies due to high demands.
Checkerboard Wrasse can grow up to 28 cm what is approximately 11 inches. In general, 1 specimen requires at least 3360cm
2 of water surface which is approximately 520 square inch. It is recommended to raise this species in fish tanks that are large. (
e) Medium aquariums have at least 113 Litres (30 US Gallons). Large aquariums have at least 265 Litres (70 US Gallons). Very large aquariums hold at least 700 Litres (185 US Gallons).
It is difficult to keep the Checkerboard Wrasse fish. (
e) The specific gravity (SG) should be between 1,020 and 1,025, the temperature between 23°C (73.4°F) and 26°C (78.8°F). The suggested level of pH (a measure of the acidity/basicity) is between 8.0 and 8.3 which is usual for most marine fish.
H. Hortulanus is a hermaphrodite. At first it is a female and only later it may become a male. The males are greener, females are more grey.
This fish requires a large and long tank with plenty of hiding places, but also a large area of sand bottom. You should keep only one fish of this specie, because it is very aggressive to own specie.
It is not difficult to feed this fish in aquarium. It will eat worms, shell meat, scampi but also other aquarium food.
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- Cirrhilabrus Exquisitus (Exquisite Wrasse)
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- Epibulus Insidiator (Slingjaw Wrasse)
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- Gomphosus Varius (Brown Bird Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Chloropterus (Green Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Chrysus (Golden Coris Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Cyanocephalus (Lighting Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Iridis (Radiant Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Leucoxanthus (Whitebelly Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Maculipinna (Clown Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Marginatus (Dusky Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Melanurus (Tail-Pot Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Poecilopterus (Wrasse)
- Halichoeres Scapularis (Zigzag Wrasse)
- Hemigymnus Fasciatus (Five Banded Wrasse, Barred Thicklip)
- Hemigymnus Melapterus (Blackeye Thicklip)
- Hologymnosus Annulatus (Ring wrasse)
- Labroides Bicolor (Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse)
- Labroides Dimidiatus (Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse)
- Larabicus Quadrilineatus (Fourline Wrasse, Four Line Cleaner Wrasse, Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse)
- Macropharyngodon Negrosensis (Yellowspotted Wrasse)
- Novaculichthys Taeniourus (Rockmover Wrasse)
- Oxycheilinus Mentalis (Mental Wrasse)
- Paracheilinus Lineopunctatus (Spot-Lined Flasher)
- Pseudocheilinus Hexataenia (Six Line Wrasse)
- Pseudojuloides Erythrops (Redeye Wrasse)
- Stethojulis Trilineata (Three-Lined Rainbowfish, Blue-Ribbon Wrasse)
- Symphodus Tinca (East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse)
- Thalassoma Duperrey (Saddle Wrasse)
- Thalassoma Hardwicke (Sixbar Wrasse)
- Thalassoma Lucasanum (Cortez Rainbow Wrasse)
- Thalassoma Lunare (Moon Wrasse)
- Thalassoma Pavo (Ornate Wrasse)
- Thalassoma Rueppellii (Klunzinger’s Wrasse)
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Halichoeres hortulanus
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Document modified on Sun Jan 27 7:51:54 UTC 2008
Document created on Thu Dec 13 12:32:58 UTC 2007
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