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Harlequin Tusk (Choerodon fasciatus)
Harlequin Tusk
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Harlequin Tusk (Choerodon fasciatus)
Additional locales and sizes may be available!
Additional locales and sizes may be available!

Quick Stats

Care Level Moderate
Temperament Semi-aggressive
Color Form Blue, Orange
Diet Carnivore
Reef Compatible With Caution
Water Conditions sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size 10"
Family Labridae
Minimum Tank Size 125 gallons
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level Moderate
Temperament Semi-aggressive
Color Form Blue, Orange
Diet Carnivore
Reef Compatible With Caution
Water Conditions sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size 10"
Family Labridae
Minimum Tank Size 125 gallons
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information

Overview

The Harlequin Tusk originates from the reefs of the Indian Ocean and Australia. Indian Ocean Tusks have orange stripes with white margins and a hint of blue adjacent to the tail of the fish. Australian Tusks have orange stripes with vivid blue margins starting from the pectoral fin, along the fishes back to their tail. Both of these beautiful color forms have bright blue teeth or tusks used to crunch invertebrates. They are a wonderful fish for a FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) aquarium. These fish are typically shy when at a small size, but will in time gain personality and confidence as they mature.

A 125 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock for hiding places and moderately aggressive, active fish such as Angels, Tangs, and smaller Triggers is an acceptable environment. Keep only one specimen per tank. Although they will not bother corals, they will eat any small crustacean such as snails or crabs.

The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food.

Approximate Purchase Size: Juvenile Medium: 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"; Small: 2-1/2" to 3-1/2"; Medium: 3-1/2" to 4-1/4"; Medium/Large: 4-1/4" to 5" Large: 5" to 6"; XLarge: 6" to 7"; XXLarge: 7" to 9"

Customer Testimonials

Bob B Manahawkin , NJ
Make sure you have a tight fitting top on the tank. I have lost two that jumped out of the tank.
Nick A Lafayette , CA
This is a prize fish for a FOWLR tank; a lot of personality, when he is hungry watch out!!! Mine has beautiful markings - I would not trade him for anything.
Peter M Howell , NJ
A very attractive fish that swims around the whole tank, very active. Will hold his own with most fish. Is a good eater and has great color and personality. The Australian variety is much more colorful than the Indian one.
Rob M Casselberru , FL
These guys are great. The fish showed up in a huge box full of water. Exhibited great life and little stress. Beautiful fish and accurate size as promised. Thank you Drs. Foster and Smith!!!
Jacob S Rockdale , TX
Great fish, stunning color and teeth, absolutely love mine. Great job guys!
Yong V Charlotte , NC
My Tusk were huge when it arrive bigger than what I expected and already eat later that day, great color too. Will order from this site again.
Charles G Northridge , CA
My Harlequin Tusk came in perfect condition and started swimming around the tank and eating mysis in just minutes. Within a day, he took silversides from me. I would strongly suggest the Australian fish since they seem to adjust to tanks with fewer problems. This is an expensive fish, but worth every penny!
Jake P Riverside , CA
Great fish. It seems pricy at first , but is it a great addition to any semi aggresive aquarium. Works very well with my two puffers , lionfish , and my Picasso trigger. It also eats well.
Dave L Ogden , IL
I have had this guy in my tank for 3 months and he is awesome! I recently added a large yellow tang and you would think they were brothers the way they follow each other around. He is pricy but well worth it!
Steve M Saint Albans , MO
I received my Australian Harlequin Tusk (large size) about a month ago. I typically purchase my fish through Divers Den but could not resist getting this fish from Live Aquaria's California facility when it finally became available. This fish is fantastic for several reasons. First, it is extremely beautiful particularly the Australian type because of the blue margins that compliment the bright orange tiger stripes. Second, the tusk is a very active swimmers. It is not afraid, and does not hide behind rocks, except when it is bedtime it likes to sleep in a rock. Third, the tusk seems very resilient (or hearty). He gets along with everyone in the aquarium, including large angels, little chromis, triggers, and he hasn't touched any of the corals. They do, however, love to eat snails and hermit crabs, shrimp or other crustaceans, so you have to keep them well fed in order to prevent them from eating the cleanup crew. Fourth, the tusk has a huge personality, regularly looking around the aquarium and following me as I walk past the aquarium. They're kind of like an inquisitive dog except they are fish and have bright orange stripes in blue teeth! Finally, the tusk is not finicky and will eat almost immediately upon arrival, and then eat more or less constantly nonstop thereafter. Mine loves silversides, pellets, and unfortunately I caught him eating a starfish the other day. Crustaceans will be eaten if you don't keep your task fed. Use silversides to keep his fat belly full! This is without a doubt my favorite fish.
J Cole Jacksonville , FL
When visitors to our home ask, “which one is your favorite fish?” I reply, “it’s hard to say, but I really like the Tusk.” He’s one of a kind, no trouble, hearty, graceful, and always entertaining to watch. He is not the aggresive feeder you may read about in the literature, unless you drop in a clam on the half shell. No one gets in his way when the weekly clam on the half shell treat drops in the tank. I have not tried it, but I would love to see several of them in the same tank.
Michael R East Lyme , CT
I Recently ordered a Australian Harlequin Tusk along with a tang. For the first couple of days there was fierce fighting between him and my Powder Blue tang but because he was so healthy he thrived. His color is beautiful and he is very lively and healthy! I am very satisfied
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