Care
The Clouded Wrasse is known from the weedy areas of reef flats, reef margins, and rocky shores to depths of 40m (131ft). This species makes a pretty and fascinating addition to reef aquaria where no ornamental shrimp, snails, or fanworms are present. The tank should be mature and furnished with plenty of living rock to provide feeding opportunities, shady hiding places and visual barriers. There should be a deep sand bed of around 3" (7.5cm) or so, in order that the wrasse may bury itself at night or if startled. Keep either a single specimen, or, if the tank is large enough, a good sized group of 5 or 6 individuals (ideally introduced simultaneously). Clouded Wrasses are non-aggressive and may be kept alongside some of the more docile species such as firefish, flasher wrasses, and fairy wrasses. It is not uncommon for this species to clean other fishes in captivity and this behaviour should not be mistaken for aggression. Powerful filtration and circulation with a high level of oxygenation are a must, as are tight fitting coverslides; these fish are expert jumpers. Clouded Wrasse can often be observed searching for small live foods such as commensal flatworms, pyramidellid snails (clam parasites), urchins, tiny isopods, and small bristleworms. May also be seen on sale as Clouded Rainbow Fish, Cloud Wrasse, or Nebulous Wrasse.
Feeding
Feed a variety of meaty foods in small amounts several times per day, including Mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, finely chopped krill/ cockle/ mussel/ prawns/ squid/ clam/ fish flesh etc, plus flake food.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium. In the wild, these fish have been observed forming distinct pairs when breeding.
