The White Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella albofasciata) is an elusive but incredibly fun fish you can keep in a saltwater fish tank. They are predominately red with patches of black throughout, and vertical white bands spread across its body. It is a small species of wrasse but also very eye-catching. This guide will discuss White Banded Possum Wrasse’s aquarium needs, dietary requirements, tank mate compatibility, and more.
Aquarium Requirements
This fish will grow to only 2.5 inches in length which makes it a great choice for a nano reef tank, like a 10-gallon. They do best with varying-sized pieces of live rock for it to explore. As stated above, they are elusive and very shy. They will hide in and out of the rockwork when scared, stressed, and when searching for food. Possum Wrasses do not bury themselves in the sand at night, so they do not necessarily require sand in the aquarium. However, live sand is beneficial for the overall health of your fish tank.
Wrasses are notorious for jumping out of fish tanks, that’s no different for the Possum Wrasse. I recommend covering your aquarium with a well-fitted lid to prevent this from happening.
Water Parameters
Keeping water parameters in check is one thing you should strive to do. This is especially true for saltwater fish, because they are a little more sensitive to water fluctuations than freshwater fish. The following are water parameters needed by the White Banded Possum Wrasse.
- Water Temperature: 72°-78° F
- dKH: 8 – 12
- pH: 8.1 – 8.4
- Salinity: 1.020 – 1.025 sg
Consider getting a High Range pH and KH test kit to test for pH & dKH. Keeping your temperature between 72° and 78° can be accomplished with a heater. Take a look at my guide which showcases some great aquarium heaters. Lastly, I would pick up a Refractometer from Amazon to keep an eye on your salinity levels. If calibrated correctly, refractometers are much more accurate compared to a hydrometer which loses accuracy due to salt buildup on the dial. Check out Different Salinity Reading Tools For Saltwater Fish Tanks to get an idea of other salinity testing devices available.
Is the White Banded Possum Wrasse Reef Safe?
The White Banded Possum Wrasse is reef safe. It will not bother any coral or invertebrates, such as crabs, snails, and shrimp. It will be a benefit for your reef because it will consume nuisance inverts like bristleworms and flatworms, that can irritate coral if populations aren’t kept under control.
Food & Diet
Possum Wrasses are carnivorous and require a protein-rich diet. They will find a lot of food on their own in the aquarium, but should also be fed at least once a day. I recommend providing them with a variation of Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp, and other meaty foods. They may also consume pellet food, and my go-to pellet food is New Life Spectrum – Marine Formula.
Tank Mates
White Banded Possum Wrasses are incredibly peaceful fish. They are much more docile and elusive than many other Wrasse species. They will do well with most other peaceful marine fish. The list is long but some of the fish they will do great with are:
- Dwarf Angels
- Anthias
- Basslets
- Blennies
- Butterflies
- Cardinals
- Chromis
- Clownfish
- Foxfaces
- Gobies
- Tangs
There are plenty of other fish species that are compatible with Possum Wrasses. When picking out tank mates, consider the space in the aquarium the fish will use. There may be territorial disputes if two or more fish utilize the same space. Also, consider the size of your aquarium. If your fish tank is too small, you’re just asking for fights to break out between fish. If possible, I would avoid keeping The White Banded Possum Wrasse with other Wrasses, just to avoid aggression and fighting. They will not do well with large-mouth fish, such as Anglers, Groupers, Eels, and many other large fish.
Breeding
I have never attempted to breed White Banded Possum Wrasses, and there is not much information available on whether it’s even possible. Saltwater fish in general are incredibly hard or impossible to breed in captivity, with a few exceptions of course. If anyone has information on breeding this fish, please let me know!
Final Notes
White Banded Possum Wrasses are very unique fish with an arrowhead shaped body, and interesting color patterns. They’re very elusive and shy when introduced into the aquarium. With time and patience they will warm-up to you and their surroundings. The White Banded Possum Wrasse is harder to find compared to the Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse, but either species is an excellent choice for a saltwater reef tank. If this wrasse is not for you, check out other Reef Safe Wrasses available.
Image by Mark Rosenstein on wikiMedia
