Saltwater
Humphead wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
Labridae, Cheilininae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 229 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 251,937 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in American Samoa, Australia, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, and 38 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Adults inhabit steep outer reef slopes, channel slopes, and lagoon reefs. They are benthopelagic at 2-60 m. They are usually solitary but may occur in pairs. Juveniles are encountered in coral-rich areas of lagoon reefs, where staghorn Acropora corals abound and also in algae reefs or seagrasses. Adults rove across the reefs by day and rest in reef caves and under coral ledges at night. Primary food are mollusks, fishes, sea urchins, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. They are one of the few predators of toxic animals such as sea hares, boxfishes and crown-of-thorns starfish. They are oviparous with distinct pairing during breeding. They are sold in Hong Kong live fish markets. This species is captured by hook-and-line and by spear, and is occasionally marketed for food. Juveniles are occasionally seen in the aquarium trade. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Cheilenus undulatus
- Cheilinus godeffroyi
- Cheilinus mertensii
- Cheilinus rostratus
- Cheilinus undulates
- Chelinus godeffroyi
In other languages
- Napoleonfisk
- Napoleonsfisk
- Kyhmyhuulikala
- Blue-tooth groper, Double-headed maori wrasse, Double-headed parrot-fish, Double-headed wrasse, Giant humphead wrasse, Giant maori wrasse, Giant wrasse, Humhead wrasse, Hump-headed wrasse, Humpback wrasse, Humphead, Humphead maori wrasse, Maori wrasse, Napoleon Maori-wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, Napoleonfish, Truck Wrasse, Undulate Wrasse, Wrasse
Articles
All articles
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
From freshwater to saltwater3 min read
What is different in a saltwater aquarium: salt, refractometer, live rock and corals. An introduction for anyone thinking of giving it a try.