Wrasse – Red Cigar

Red Cigar Wrasse Care Tips:

Minimum Tank Size:  80 Gallons

Max Size: Up to 25cm (10′)

Diet: Carnivore

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Lifespan: Up to 9 years

Scientific Name: Hologymnosus Rhodonotus

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Approx. Purchase Size:  2-3  inches

The red cigar wrasse, scientific name Hologymnosus Rhodonotus is a semi-aggressive fish. Their minimum tank size is 80 gallons. Red cigar wrasses can grow up to 10” and can live up to 9 years. Red cigar wrasses are carnivores and should be fed frozen meaty foods such as brine or mysis shrimp. Red cigar wrasses are pod eaters and will hunt continuously for small pods found in the aquarium. Red cigar wrasses can be trained to eat frozen foods but will be healthier and happier in a tank where they can hunt live food as well. They should be kept singly, in mated pairs or small herums with one male and multiple females. Keeping multiple of the same species requires adequate space and rockwork. All red cigar wrasses start as females, if there is multiple kept together and no male is present, the dominant female will turn into a male. Red cigar wrasses can be kept with other wrasses. Red cigar wrasses are reef safe with caution, they will not bother coral. They may prey upon crustaceans when they are fully mature but as juveniles they will not bother invertebrates. Red cigar wrasses dive into the sand to sleep at night and will not do well in a tank without sand, the sand bed should be thick enough to completely cover them, atleast 2-3”. During the day they will be swimming throughout the tank. Wrasses are known for jumping and require a tight fighting lid.