SeafanEmergencies

Wrasses

Yellow coris wrasse

Halichoeres chrysus

Also sold as Yellow wrasse, Canary wrasse

Good first fish

Yellow coris wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
Photo: Sushi Girl1995, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Care level
Beginner
Adult size
12.7 cm in aquariums
Minimum tank
189 litres
Temperament
Peaceful
With corals
Reef safe with caution
Captive-bred
Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
IUCN status
Least Concern
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How do you care for the yellow coris wrasse?

Peaceful.

Feeding

Carnivore.

Small frequent meals.

Tank and special needs

Plan for at least 189 litres of water (the care sheet says 50 US gallons).

5 to 8 cm sand bed for sleeping; tight lid.

Corals and invertebrates

Eats small shrimp and fan worms; leaves corals alone (LiveAquaria).

Which tankmates suit the yellow coris wrasse?

Fine with other peaceful wrasses.

Suggested order in a mixed tank: add after the first peaceful fish.

More than one yellow coris wrasse

Keep one yellow coris wrasse: two of the same species usually fight.

Other fish

Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

Take care (5)

  • Maroon clownfishMaroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the yellow coris wrasse, especially if the bully is added first.
  • Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the yellow coris wrasse, especially if the bully is added first.
  • Melanurus wrasseBoth are sand wrasses that use the same sand; give each its own area.
  • Leopard wrasseBoth are sand wrasses that use the same sand; give each its own area.
  • Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the yellow coris wrasse, especially if the bully is added first.
Usually fine together (54)

Invertebrates

Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

Avoid together (5)

  • Skunk cleaner shrimpYellow coris wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Peppermint shrimpYellow coris wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the peppermint shrimp.
  • Camel shrimpYellow coris wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Berghia nudibranchYellow coris wrasse is likely to eat Berghia.
  • Harlequin shrimpYellow coris wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the harlequin shrimp.

Take care (2)

  • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
  • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

Corals and anemones

Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

No known problems with the corals and anemones in this guide.

These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

Quarantine and health

Needs sand in quarantine to bury in, or a container of sand.

New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

Captive-bred or wild?

Wild-caught.

What does it cost in the UK?

about £42. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day.

Sources

  1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats.
  2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.
  3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.

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