Choerodon

The Best Livestock for Your Marine Aquarium

Wrasses called Tuskfish, the Genus Choerodon

Bob Fenner

Choerodon graphicus

Species: Nineteen described according to ICLARM's FishBase. Only one in regular use in the aquarium trade; Choerodon fasciatus.

Choerodon anchorago (Bloch 1791), the Orange-Spotted Tuskfish. Indo-West Pacific; Sri Lanka to French Polynesia. To about fifteen inches maximum length. A one foot specimen in Bunaken/Manado/Celebes/Indonesia, another in Redang, Malaysia.

Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size.

Choerodon cephalotes (Castelnau 1875), the Grass Tuskfish. Queensland to Indonesia. To fifteen inches in length. Found associated with grass beds. This one off of the Whitsundays in Australia.

Choerodon cyanodus (Richardson 1843), the Blue Tuskfish. Queensland to western Australia. Reportedly feeds mainly on mollusks. To twenty eight inches in length. Queensland, Australia photo.

Choerodon fasciatus (Gunther 1867), the Harlequin Tuskfish. Western Pacific, Australia to Taiwan. To twelve inches maximum length. The only familiar member of the genus, and a gentle giant... as long as you're more than mouth size, smart and fast enough. Crustaceans need not apply as tankmates.

Choerodon graphicus De Vis 1885, the Graphic Tuskfish. West Pacific, Australia to New Caledonia. To twenty inches in length. A shy species that is rarely seen in the ornamental trade outside of the "Land Down Under". This one off of Heron Island.

Choerodon jordani (Snyder 1908), Jordan's Tuskfish. West Pacific; Western Australia, Fiji, Samoa. To 17 cm. Aquarium image.

Choerodon schoenleinii (Valenciennes 1839), the Blackspot Tuskfish. Indo-West Pacific, Japan to Australia. Largest member of the genus. Up to 38 inches long (1 meter) and 16 kilograms in weight. This one in Australia.

Choerodon venustus (De Vis 1884), the Venus Tuskfish.

Choerodon zamboangae, the Purple Eyebrow Tuskfish. Purple Eyebrow Tuskfish 4/3/17
> Hello Mr. Fenner,
<Gary>
> Your website has helped me in the past so I figured you would be the best resource regarding my new acquisition. I picked up a Purple Eyebrow Tuskfish from my LFS a couple of days ago.
> I had a Harlequin Tuskfish in my tank for a little over 12 years until he finally expired a couple of months ago, so I do have some experience with the Tuskfish family.
<Genus; Choerodon... Labrid/wrasse family>
> My question: I really can't find any info on this species. According to Scott W. Michael's book on Wrasses & Parrotfishes, this is a rare fish in the trade.
<Tis so. All other than Harlequins are rare>
The fish is gorgeous and he is eating Rod's brand of frozen food along with Ocean Nutrition flake and Tetra Jumbo Krill.
> I am just curious if you could add any other info on this fish? From what I am witnessing he acts very similar to a Harlequin Tuskfish, I.e. Eats everything, burrows at night, swims all over the tank during the day, pretty passive with the other inhabitants; a Blue Face Angel, Purple Tang, Emperor Angel and a Diadem Dottyback.
<Yes; my input would be, is as yours above. Treat, care for as C. fasciata>
> Please see attached photo of the fish in my FOWLR tank. Feel free to include this picture on your WetWeb Media website if you like.
<I thank you>
> If you would like, I keep a detailed log on my fish from purchase to expiry or trade. I would be more than happy to keep your group up to date on the behavior of this fish to better help and understand the husbandry of
this species.
> Thanks, Gary Lewandowski
<Thank you for sharing. I do encourage you to develop the log you mention; perhaps document the husbandry of this fish; generate an article re. Bob Fenner>

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