{"product_id":"dragon-wrasse-novaculichthys-taeniourus","title":"Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys Taeniourus)","description":"\u003cp style=\"margin:1em 0\"\u003eThe Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus), also known as the Rockmover Wrasse or Reindeer Wrasse in its juvenile stage, is a captivating and active marine species renowned for its dramatic visual transformation and dynamic behavior. Reaching up to 30 cm in length, this Indo-Pacific native requires a spacious aquarium with a tight-fitting lid to prevent jumping and a deep sand bed of 7.6–10.2 cm for sleeping and protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:1em 0\"\u003eKnown for systematically rearranging substrate and flipping rubble in search of prey, this carnivore thrives best in a Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR) system with stable, secure structures. It should be fed a varied diet of meaty foods such as mysis, krill, and chopped seafood, and housed alongside robust, assertive tankmates like tangs, triggers, and marine angelfish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:1.25em 0 0.5em\"\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"pu-table\" style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border:0;box-shadow:none;outline:none;background:none;table-layout:fixed;margin:0 0 1em\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eNovaculichthys taeniourus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eDragon Wrasse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eOther Common Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eRockmover Wrasse, Reindeer Wrasse, Striped Wrasse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eIndo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eMax Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003e30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eCarnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eSemi-Aggressive \/ Assertive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003e454 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0.75em 0.4em 0;opacity:0.65;vertical-align:top\"\u003eSubstrate Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0.4em 0;vertical-align:top\"\u003eDeep Sand Bed (7.6–10.2 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:1.25em 0 0.5em\"\u003eHighlights\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:1em 0\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiet: This wrasse is a dedicated carnivore with a high metabolism. In the wild, it consumes a wide variety of small, benthic invertebrates such as snails, crabs, shrimp, worms, and brittle stars. In captivity, it requires a varied diet of meaty foods fed several times a day, including frozen mysis shrimp, krill, enriched brine shrimp, and chopped seafood like clam, mussel, and table shrimp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRock-Moving Behavior: Live rock should be placed directly on the bottom glass before adding any sand to prevent the fish from undermining the structure and causing a rock slide. This fish is known for its active foraging behavior.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReef Compatibility: This species is not reef safe. The Dragon Wrasse will actively hunt and consume ornamental and cleanup-crew invertebrates, including snails, shrimp, crabs, and sea stars. Its habit of flipping rocks and coral rubble makes it unsuitable for maintaining a pristine reef environment. It is best suited for a Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR) system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperament: This species is semi-aggressive to assertive. While juveniles are generally docile, adults can be assertive and territorial and assertive. They should be housed with similarly sized, robust, and moderately aggressive tankmates such as large Tangs, Triggerfish, Groupers, and marine Angels. It is best kept singly, as it may become aggressive towards other wrasses or its own species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:1.25em 0 0.5em\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:1em 0\"\u003eBest suited for Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR) setups. House with similarly sized, robust species such as large tangs, triggerfish, groupers, and marine angelfish. Avoid housing with ornamental invertebrates or small, docile fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"pu-table\" style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border:0;box-shadow:none;outline:none;background:none;table-layout:fixed;margin:0\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:1.25em 0 0.5em\"\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e.pu-faq[open]\u003esummary .pu-faq-c{transform:rotate(180deg)}\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"pu-table\" style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border:0;box-shadow:none;outline:none;background:none;table-layout:fixed;margin:0 0 1em\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"pu-faq\" style=\"padding:0.45em 0\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:10px;list-style:none\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the Dragon Wrasse reef safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003csvg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.75\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" class=\"pu-faq-c\" style=\"width:1em;height:1em;flex:none;opacity:0.6;transition:transform 0.15s\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cpath d=\"M6 9l6 6l6 -6\"\u003e\u003c\/path\u003e\u003c\/svg\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0.4em 0 0\"\u003eNo, it is not reef safe because it actively preys on cleanup-crew invertebrates like snails, crabs, and shrimp, and frequently flips rocks and rubble.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"pu-faq\" style=\"padding:0.45em 0\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:10px;list-style:none\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat should I feed a Dragon Wrasse?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003csvg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.75\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" class=\"pu-faq-c\" style=\"width:1em;height:1em;flex:none;opacity:0.6;transition:transform 0.15s\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cpath d=\"M6 9l6 6l6 -6\"\u003e\u003c\/path\u003e\u003c\/svg\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0.4em 0 0\"\u003eFeed a varied carnivorous diet multiple times daily, including frozen mysis shrimp, krill, enriched brine shrimp, and chopped seafood like clam or mussel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.16);border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,currentColor 12%,transparent)\"\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"pu-faq\" style=\"padding:0.45em 0\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:10px;list-style:none\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat type of substrate does this wrasse require?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003csvg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.75\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" class=\"pu-faq-c\" style=\"width:1em;height:1em;flex:none;opacity:0.6;transition:transform 0.15s\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cpath d=\"M6 9l6 6l6 -6\"\u003e\u003c\/path\u003e\u003c\/svg\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0.4em 0 0\"\u003eIt requires a deep sand bed of at least 7.6–10.2 cm to bury itself for resting and protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"border:0;padding:0\"\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"pu-faq\" style=\"padding:0.45em 0\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:10px;list-style:none\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is it also called the Rockmover Wrasse?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003csvg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.75\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" class=\"pu-faq-c\" style=\"width:1em;height:1em;flex:none;opacity:0.6;transition:transform 0.15s\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cpath d=\"M6 9l6 6l6 -6\"\u003e\u003c\/path\u003e\u003c\/svg\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0.4em 0 0\"\u003eIt earns this name from its natural foraging behavior of systematically moving and flipping rocks and rubble to hunt for benthic prey.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImportant Fulfillment Information\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFish and corals ship Monday through Thursday. Not all fish are sexed. If so it will specify.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce your order ships, you will receive an email with your tracking number. Refunds are always issued for any fish not shipped.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlantedPlus operates as a collective of trusted freshwater and saltwater importers. This policy allows us to prioritize animal welfare while maintaining reliable service for our hobbyists.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping Cost Disclosure\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTo help keep ordering live fish online affordable, Planted Plus subsidizes a portion of shipping costs. Because these costs are incurred regardless of order completion, shipping charges are non-refundable.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Planted Plus","offers":[{"title":"Small (3.8–7.6 cm)","offer_id":67625558638842,"sku":"23081","price":54.06,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (7.6–10.2 cm)","offer_id":67625558671610,"sku":"23083","price":74.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10.2–15.2 cm)","offer_id":67625558704378,"sku":"23085","price":106.56,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/3745\/5610\/files\/Dragon-Wrasse.webp?v=1790978843","url":"https:\/\/plantedplus.com\/products\/dragon-wrasse-novaculichthys-taeniourus","provider":"Planted Plus","version":"1.0","type":"link"}