Moon wrasse

Distributed across the Indo-Pacific. In Japan, from Wakayama Prefecture southwards. It is a species of wrasse. It reaches 20 cm in length. It looks similar to the yellow-brown wrasse, however, it can be distinguished by the bright turquoise colors of the males and its pectoral fins turning reddish violet. They typically inhabit shallow coral reefs and are hard to care for in aquariums. Generally, the wrasse will sleep in the sand during night, therefore the sand in an aquarium must be of sufficient depth. They are also vulnerable to sickness. The individual in the image is a male.