Red Pygmy Possum Wrasse
Wetmorella tanakai
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $269.99.$141.99Current price is: $141.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 1 - 2" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $245.99.$128.99Current price is: $128.99. | Email me |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 20 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Red Pygmy Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella tanakai) is a nano reef safe wrasse with a compact, arrowhead profile and a long snout built for picking food out of tight rockwork. Its red-to-rust base color is broken up by lighter banding that reads as thin stripes as it moves through crevices.
What You’ll Observe:
- Short “hop-and-hover” movements along the rock face, with quick dashes between caves and overhangs
- Frequent investigating of tiny holes and shaded areas, especially once it learns where food lands
- A consistent “route” it patrols, often returning to the same few hiding spots each day
- Most activity around feeding time, with a calmer, tucked-in posture during rest periods
To help it settle in, provide a mature rock structure with multiple small caves and ledges, and keep flow patterns that let fine foods drift into the rockwork. Offer small meaty foods in smaller portions more than once per day, and use a fitted lid so it can explore confidently.
Why did my possum wrasse disappear right after I added it?
It’s common for them to stay deep in the rockwork at first and show up more consistently once they learn the tank’s “safe routes” and feeding routine.
Where does a Red Pygmy Possum Wrasse sleep?
Most choose a tight crevice or overhang and wedge in for the night, sometimes returning to the same spot for days.
How can I make sure it gets food in a tank with fast eaters?
Feed smaller particle foods that drift, pause pumps for a few minutes, and use a pipette to place a little food near its preferred rockwork zone.
Can I keep two possum wrasses together?
Some hobbyists do well with pairs when there’s plenty of rockwork and both fish are added at the same time, but many keep a single specimen for the simplest long-term dynamic.
Is it normal that it rarely swims in the open like other wrasses?
Yes—many spend most of their time close to the rocks, and you’ll usually see more open movement as it becomes familiar with the tank.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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