Bird Wrasse - Gomphosus varius - Small Female

The Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius) is a unique wrasse with a distinctive appearance. The mouth extends into a beak-like snout as the fish matures. Males and females or juveniles have very different coloration. Males are bluish-green with longer, more defined snouts while the snout on younger fish or females is smaller. Females and juveniles are also brown, usually with a lighter underside.

Bird Wrasses swim constantly during the day and needs plenty of swimming room and rockwork. It is not uncommon for Bird Wrasses to injury their snout in tanks that are too small or that do not have enough swimming room, especially if the wrasse becomes stressed or startled. They are generally peaceful toward other fish, but their constant swimming may disturb smaller or less active fish. Keep the tank covered as they are known to jump out of uncovered tanks.

In the wild they use their long snout to gather small animal life from crevices but in captivity they will take most small frozen meaty foods and some algae. Use caution with invertebrates and small fish; these wrasses may prey on worms (including nuisance Bristleworms or Fireworms), crustaceans, clams and very small fish. They do not bother sessile inverts like coral.