Queen Coris (Coris formosa)

Queen Coris Coris formosa
Name	Queen Coris
Name Lat.	Coris formosa
Synonym	Coris frerei
Family	Wrasses
Family lat.	Labridae
Order	Wrasses & Relatives
Order lat.	Labriformes
Origin	Indian Ocean, Red Sea
Habitat	Lagoons, sandy areas
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8,1-8,4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, group
Reef Compatible	With caution
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	50 cm
Temperature	24-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 1.100 l
US Units
Size	20"
Temperature	75-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 290 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Coris formosa is the western Indian Ocean, from the southern Red Sea over the coasts of East Africa to Sri Lanka. They live mostly solitary in lagoons and on reefs over seagrass, rocks and corals up to 50 m depth.

Maintenance

They need a well structured aquarium with rock or stone structures with living stones, which offer enough hiding and covering possibilities as well as sufficient swimming space and a bottom substrate consisting of a layer of sand at least 20 cm deep (no coral rubble!). Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels, stones or sea sand may be used.

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swell and bottom currents. Lighting must be appropriate for the species' day-night rhythm

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

They feed on small crustaceans and mollusks. The food change does not always succeed without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of chopped shrimp, mussel and crab meat, plus live and frozen food such as mysis, krill, artemia and shrimp or a frozen food mix enriched with vitamins. High-quality flake and granulated food is also often accepted after an acclimation period

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day, this reduces intra-species aggression and protects lower animals in the aquarium. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

The juveniles, mostly females, are peaceful among themselves. With sexual maturity the intra-species aggression increases. Group keeping is only possible in a much larger, richly structured tank. They can be well socialized with other not too small fish.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that most males develop from functional females when needed. Adult males have a light blue body with longitudinal blue stripes and several green stripes on the head. Females are dark blue to green in color with black spots and diagonal light blue stripes on the head

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium

Important

Juveniles are clearly different from adults in markings and coloration

As reef dwellers, they should be kept together with corals and not in a fish-only aquarium. Only tubeworms, snails, crabs etc. should be kept with caution

Overnight and when threatened they bury themselves in the sandy substrate

If different species are kept together, make sure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements, as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. Newly introduced fish must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BAENSCH & DEBELIUS (2006): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF