Deep in the Central and South American jungles are several small monkeys collectively referred to as the Tamarin Monkeys. They live nearly their entire lives in trees, minus the ones which are kept as house pets, obviously. When the majority of biologists speak of Tamarins, they undoubtedly are speaking of these primates. When marine biologists speak of Tamarins, however, they are not concerning themselves with the fur-ball with a whip-like tail. Instead, they are discussing a genus of marine fish. What is the connection between the monkeys and these fish? Nothing more than a coincidence, it seems. The genus Anampses was more likely given its unusual common name after the Tamarin Bay located in Mauritius. I will leave the discussion of the monkeys for another day and instead focus upon the Tamarin wrasses for the August edition of Fish Tales.

Meet the Family

Labridae is the second largest marine fish family and contains 60 genera, one of which is Anampses. Anampses is further divided into two subgenera: Psuedoanampses and Anampses. Thirteen species are included in the genus (see below). All Anampses, must possess set of morphological features which includes "a single pair of broad, projecting incisiform teeth at the front of the jaws, scaleless head, smooth preopercular margin, and complete lateral line" (Randall, 1972). The subgenera differ in the number of lateral line scales. Psuedoanampses will have 48-50 scales while Anampses have only 26-27. One species, A. melanurus, was further divided into two subspecies. Known only from the Red Sea, A. melanurus lineatus is colored slightly differently than the wider-ranging A. melanurus melanurus. As its name suggests, lines or dashes are present on A. melanurus lineatus, whereas the marks are present only as spots or dots on A. melanurus melanurus.

Like so many of the Labrids, Anampses has been a confounding genus for ichthyologists to organize. Most species in the genus have up to three distinct color variations which at one time caused ichthyologists to consider that the genus contained up to 32 species (Randall, 1972). Careful study and documentation, mostly by observing natural behavior in the wild, has resulted in the trimmed down list seen above.

The genus was introduced to the scientific community by Quoy and Gaimard (1824) with the description of Anampses cuvier. By 1839, seven more species had been assigned to the genus Anampses. Ruppell (1828) was responsible for naming A. caeruleopunctatus and then A. diadematus (Ruppell, 1835). As an example of the confusion that the color patterns in the genus amy caused, this latter species was later determined to be a male of previously described A. caeruleopunctatus (Randall, 1972). Bleeker identified five additional species during a period of 22 years, but only two are now recognized as valid: A. twistii and A. melanurus. Additionally, it was Bleeker (1862) who first recognized that A. geographicus warranted separate classification by offering Pseudoanampses as a possible generic name; however, he still retained the name Anampses for this particular specimen. This is key, because despite the overabundance of named species, every author correctly placed each species into its correct genus - something of a rarity in ichthyology, considering the confusion that existed within genus.

Throughout the early- to mid-1900's authors attempted to align the species into synonymy. Although the vast majority of these attempts were in error, nine connections proved to be correct. Ironically, none of the correct synonyms was of different sexual forms. At this time sexual dimorphism was not a factor to be considered since it was not understood. This is because fish species were, and are, described primarily from preserved specimens, and colors are lost in preservation as most of the proteins that they are based on are denatured. Virtually all preserved fishes are white, yellow or grey, the colors of most tissues in formaldehyde solutions. Finally, Randall (1958) offered just such a theory when he placed Anampses pterophthalmus into synonymy with A. geographicus, which was shortly followed by Whitley (1964) proclaiming, "due to variations in colour with growth or sex in these fishes, it is probable that the number of species may be drastically reduced." And so it was with the release of Randall's findings (1972).

In the Wild

The vast clear-blue seas of the tropical Indo-Pacific house all species of Anampses. Anampses caeruleopunctatus is the most widespread of all species, and its vast distribution seems to be an anomaly among members of this genus. Unlike many Red Sea natives, which rarely have a geographical range outside of the Red Sea, A. caeruleopunctatus remains plentiful on most extensive reef systems extending from the Africa's east coast all the way to Easter Island, although it has yet to be sighted around the Hawaiian Islands. Instead, its very close cousin, A. cuvier, is found around the big island. Ironically, A. cuvier remains endemic to only the Hawaiian Islands, and thus shares the most limited geographic distribution in the family with A. chrysocephalus, which also is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, A. chrysocephalus is known only from the Kona coast of Hawaii and Oahu. Geographic limitation is not restricted to the above species, however, as A. neoguinaicus is rarely found outside Fijian waters (even though the original description came from a specimen captured in New Guinea) and A. melanurus lineatus has not been found outside the northern reaches of the Red Sea.

Tamarin wrasses associate directly with reefs for a number of reasons. These often small and delicate wrasses rely on the rock structure for protection from larger predators. Hiding within the rockwork is often their first attempt at eluding a predator, but their best defense is undoubtedly their unusual ability to bury themselves into the sandbed. In addition to protecting them from predation, the sand becomes their bed as the sun begins to fall.

The rock structure also holds the key to the Tamarin wrasses' diet. Small crustaceans are readily plucked from the rocks and crushed in their powerful jaws. In a gut analysis of A. cuvier, the majority of the captured prey consisted of small shrimps and amphipods, but copepods, isopods and brachyuran crabs were commonly found as well. Additionally, a few fish contained large enough quantities of polychaetes to warrant special mention (Randall, 1972). The Tamarin's broad projecting incisiform teeth aid in the capture of these small food items while the pharyngeal plates do a fine job of crushing their captured prey's shell.

Anampses lennardi retains much the same color characteristics as it ages from female to male. Lennard’s Tamarin is endemic to western Australia and thus does not appear in the American market with any regularity. Photo courtesy of John Randall.

Most of the species are not easily located in shallow depths - if they can be located in there at all. The best spot to find a member of the genus is generally at depths ranging from 50 - 100 feet. However, Anampses cuvier has been captured in a mere six feet of water and thereby represents the genus' shallowest occurring species. Juvenile members of A. femininus have been seen in waters as shallow as 20 feet, but adults can be found only below 50 feet and become common at depths approaching 75 - 80 feet. Another species with the same tendency is A. chrysocephalus, whose juveniles are found at depths of 35 feet and adults typically move deeper to depths of 65 - 75 feet.

Generally, these fishes form aggregations of one dominant male and several (or more) females, and spend the better part of their day feeding upon the reef. The males are always larger and usually more colorful than the females, and will flash or display more vibrant colors during courtship. In all Anampses species the male is a different color from the female. This two-phase coloration is called "dichromatism." In some cases coloration varies between juvenile and sexually mature females, thereby affording three separate color variations in the same species.

	Although collected only in limited locations, it is expected that Anampses neoguinaicus is present on other Pacific Islands such as Solomon and New Hebrides. Although juveniles (bottom) are solitary fish, adults tend to prefer loose aggregations. Photos courtesy of John Randall.

No small males have been found, and thus it is presumed that every male Anampses spp. is a "secondary male," that is, a male resulting from a female that has undergone a sex change, also known as a "protogynous hermaphrodite" (Randall & Kuiter, 1989). The largest and most dominant females will change into males when the social order dictates the need for a male. The death or capture of the previous male is a sure-fire way to induce the most dominant female to transform into the newest male on the block.

In the Home Aquarium

Successfully maintaining a Tamarin wrasse requires a bit more skill than does the average aquarium fish. Water conditions must be optimal and food options plentiful, but perhaps the biggest obstacle to overcome is obtaining a healthy and happy Tamarin. These beautiful wrasses are often poor shippers and generally arrive at our local fish stores' aquariums in a less than acceptable condition. Therefore, careful inspection of the wrasse is the first and most important step toward long-term success with this genus. The most obvious sign of a stressful shipment would be damage around the mouth. As these fish prefer to bury themselves during stressful situations, it is not uncommon for the mouth to be scraped, bloodied or even dislocated upon arrival. No doubt, such specimens should be avoided. Assuming the fish passes the mouth inspection, the logical next step is to continue inspecting down the length of the fish, ensuring all its parts remain fully intact. The fish should also be alert and swimming with purpose. Finally, if the fish is consuming prepared foods while still in the retailer's aquarium, it is a good bet this particular specimen survived the shipping trauma with minimal injury.

Although it is always wise to quarantine every new purchase prior to its final addition to the show aquarium, this particular step is especially important with specimens of Anampses. The fish in this genus remain predominantly shy upon introduction into a home aquarium, and having to concern itself with fellow tankmates often delays or permanently corrupts attempts at acclimation. Once the fish is eating well, astute observation of the stomach should be made. If the fish is eating well and still appears not to be retaining its weight, medicated foods should be employed. An estimated 75 - 85% of imported marine fish have intestinal worms (Bassleer, 1996), and their natural diet, which consists of eating mobile invertebrates inhabiting the substrate and rockwork, often increases the odds that the fish will obtain a parasitic worm. The stress induced by poor shipping practices exacerbates this ailment, likely leading to the animal's death. Normal signs indicating internal worm infestations are: weight loss despite a healthy appetite, scraping or flashing against rockwork or sand, and finally, a complete loss of appetite occurring just prior to death. Treatment for internal worms can be administered only to a fish that is eating. Live foods are the best option for medicinal use, as they allow "gut loading," which is the practice of feeding vitamins or medicines directly to live foods just prior to feeding. If live foods are unavailable, the next best option is to use freeze-dried foods. The dry food will absorb and retain a majority of the medicine. Piperazine is a good first choice for treatment. Add 250mg per 100g of food each day for a period of 10 days. Praziquantel or lecamisole can be used as a second choice, with the same dosage and time frame. Niclosamide can also be used at 500mg per 100g of food for 10 days (Bassleer, 1996).

When the time comes to add the new acquisition to the show aquarium, several factors inside the featured tank must be met to provide for optimum care. A plethora of productive rockwork should be in place. By "productive" I mean capable of producing enough micro-fauna to supplement the prepared food diet. Anampses species continually hunt for food and live, natural supplements should be considered a quintessential part of their healthy diet. In addition to the foods produced by a well-aged aquarium, the hobbyist should expect to feed enriched brine shrimp or even gut-loaded live brine, thawed Mysis species shrimp and flake or pellet foods geared toward a carnivore's diet. Feedings at least twice daily should be implemented in reef aquariums producing a copious amount of natural foods; more frequent feedings are required in aquariums that do not have an ample supply of micro-fauna.

Quite a rarity for the Anampses genus, A. twistii does not exhibit any significant color changes based on its sex or age. Photo courtesy of John Randall.

The rockwork is also important for providing comfort and security by offering a large selection of secluded hiding spots. This is especially important upon first introduction, as the fish will be weary and looking to protect itself. A thick covering of sand is also a required décor. A minimum of 2"of sand, preferably more, should be present, which will allow the fish to dive into it and sleep for the night. Without the sand the fish will likely injure itself as it tries to bed down. Speaking of sleeping, you can expect your Tamarin to go to sleep, and wake up, at nearly the same time each day. Their internal clock is amazingly predictable. At first, this might be a problem, as they are still functioning on Indo-Pacific time. As the days and weeks pass, however, the fish will slowly readjust their schedule to more closely resemble the tank's photoperiod.

Mixing multiple Tamarin wrasses in the same aquarium can result in a stunning display of a male/female pair. Due to their dimorphic life cycle it is possible for three individuals of the same species to look completely different from one another. One caution should be exercised: do not add two males into the same aquarium. A single Tamarin can be housed in a standard 75-gallon aquarium provided all tankmates are peaceful community fish. Mixing multiple Tamarins seems best served by aquariums six feet in length or larger, thereby giving each individual some extra swimming room.

Mixing Anampses species with other fish can be done quite successfully, provided all tankmates are peaceful. Generally speaking, Tamarins can sometimes act oblivious to the fish around them, provided they are not interfered with. Small gobies, cardinals, wormfish and other shy aquarium fish are well-suited to aquariums whose largest show fish is a Tamarin. If the Tamarin is not the feature fish and large or active fish are featured, such as large angels or surgeonfish, expect the wrasse to be not nearly as outgoing. Tamarins will not fight for tank space and therefore can easily get pushed around and take up real estate in hidden corners of the aquarium.

	All age color stages of Anampses lineatus are wonderfully amazing and attractive aquarium inhabitants. Obtaining a juvenile (below) would be ideal, thereby giving the hobbyist a chance to view its maturation into an adult female (top). The male's coloration, not pictured, changes from the black of the female into a redish hue. Photos courtesy of John Randall.

Compatibility chart for Anampses species:

Fish	Will Co-Exist	May Co-Exist	Will Not Co-Exist	Notes
Angels, Dwarf	X			Excellent choice.
Angels, Large		X		Some angels may be too active or aggressive.
Anthias	X			Excellent choice.
Assessors	X			Excellent choice; add the assessor first.
Basses	X			Excellent choice.
Batfish	X			Excellent choice.
Blennies	X			Excellent choice.
Boxfishes	X			Excellent choice.
Butterflies	X			Excellent choice.
Cardinals	X			Excellent choice.
Catfish		X		Catfish grow increasingly aggressive as they grow larger.
Comet	X			Excellent choice.
Cowfish	X			Excellent choice.
Damsels		X		Some damsels are too aggressive for Tamarins.
Dottybacks		X		Some of the larger dottybacks may choose to harass Tamarins.
Dragonets		X		Should be mixed only in large aquariums that can supply natural foods to both species.
Drums	X			Excellent choice.
Eels		X		Some eels may consume Tamarins.
Filefish	X			Excellent choice.
Frogfish			X	Frogfish are capable of consuming juvenile Tamarins.
Goatfish	X			Excellent choice.
Gobies	X			Excellent choice.
Grammas	X			Excellent choice.
Groupers			X	Groupers will become increasingly aggressive and be able to consume Tamarins as they age.
Hamlets	X			Excellent choice.
Hawkfish		X		Some hawkfish may attack Tamarins.
Jawfish	X			Excellent choice.
Lionfish		X		Some lionfish grow too large and may consume smaller Tamarins.
Parrotfish		X		Often too large and active to share a tank with Tamarins.
Pineapple Fish	X			Excellent choice.
Pipefish			X	Pipefish are best suited for a species designated aquarium.
Puffers			X	Best avoided.
Rabbitfish	X			Excellent choice.
Sand Perches		X		Sand perches can be aggressive, especially as they grow larger.
Scorpionfish			X	Scorpionfish are best left to species tanks.
Seahorses			X	Seahorses are best suited for a species designated aquarium.
Snappers			X	Aggressive feeder; will intimidate Tamarins.
Soapfishes			X	Best avoided.
Soldierfish		X		Should do well except for the occasional bully.
Spinecheeks	X			Excellent choice.
Squirrelfish		X		Should do well except for the occasional bully.
Surgeonfish	X			Excellent choice.
Sweetlips		X		Some sweetlips get huge, a potential problem for the Tamarins.
Tilefish		X		Some tilefish can behave aggressively.
Toadfish			X	Toadfish may attempt to consume Tamarins.
Triggerfish			X	Most triggerfish are too aggressive for Tamarins.
Waspfish		X		Waspfish may harass juvenile Tamarins.
Wrasses		X		Some wrasses will co-exist, while others will not.

Sessile invertebrates are not at risk of harm from Tamarin wrasses. These wrasses have no desire or nutritional reason to consider prized corals as food. When it appears they are harassing corals, they are more likely chasing down a small hard-shelled mobile invertebrate which has taken up residence within the coral, rather than harassing the coral itself. Motile invertebrates, however, are another story. Generally speaking, larger decorative invertebrates such as Lysmata species shrimp, starfish and cucumbers will not be harmed, but small ornamental shrimp are likely to represent too great a temptation for the wrasse to resist. Additionally, hermit crabs, Peppermint snails and Stomatella species snails may begin to disappear at alarming rates. Obviously, small hard-shelled invertebrates such as the various copepods and amphipods found in aquariums will be vigorously hunted. Tamarin wrasses are excellent predators; it is what they spend their entire afternoon doing.

Anampses caeruleopunctatus prefers inshore reefs with maximum depths reaching 60' for adult males while young juveniles are commonly found in surge zones. Female Diamond Tamarins are very attractive, but eventually they can grow as large as adult males at 16". Photos courtesy of John Randall.

Meet the Species

Due to the limited geographic distribution of a number of this genus' species, very few species are well represented in the aquarium trade. Those species that do find themselves the target of collector's nets are undoubtedly the most geographically widespread members, or ones that are located in key collecting areas.

One of the most popular wrasses in the genus Anampses is A. chrysocephalus, the Red-Tailed Tamarin. Unfortunately, the demand for this fish often outweighs its availability as it is considered limited even in its native Hawaiian waters. The female color variety is exceptionally beautiful, and thus is the most commonly imported color phase of this species. Given their potential adult size of six inches and their preference for being paired with an adult of the opposite gender, these wrasses can make for a wonderful display in a peaceful reef aquarium.

The Blue-striped Tamarin is desirable merely because its females' coloration is so attractive. In fact, the female is so wonderfully attractive that it was named Anampses femininus. Unfortunately for all hobbyists, when this fish becomes available it is more often collected as a mistake than actually being purposefully sought. These fish are rather shy and reclusive, especially once divers with nets make their presence felt on the wild reef. As such, expect a very expensive price tag to be associated with them. Even so, if you can track down a few members of this species, an interesting and presumably rare captive harem can be observed.

Anampses meleagrides is perhaps this genus' most often purchased member. Its vast geographic diversity no doubt increases its overall availability. Thankfully, its coloration is every bit as eclectic as the other Anampses species and thus it remains quite an attraction to observers and collectors alike. It can reach sizes up to nine or 10 inches; therefore, a larger aquarium may be needed when compared to the smaller members of this genus.

Conclusion

Aquarists looking to add an exquisitely colored fish to a community reef aquarium should consider the Tamarin wrasses. Although their feeding can sometimes be picky and often detrimental to keeping Dragonette species, they do possess several characteristics which make them an inviting inhabitant of most reef aquaria. Their generally small size makes them ideal for most reef aquariums, while their peaceful disposition lends ease to mixing them with other small, peaceful community fish. With a few precautions considered and dealt with prior to their purchase, hobbyists can reward themselves with a stunning addition to their tank.

References:

Baensch, H.A. and Debelius, H. 1994. Baensch Marine Atlas, Volume 1. Microcosm. Shelburne. pp. 1215.

Bassleer, G. 1996. Internal Worm Infections. Diseases in Marine Aquarium Fish. Bassleer Biofish, Statiostr. Westmeerbeek, Belgium. pp. 72 - 75.

Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Fairy & Rainbow Wrasses and their Relatives. TMC Publishing. Chorelywood. 208pp.

Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.

Michael, S.W. 1998. Reef Fishes Volume 1. Microcosm. Shelburne. pp. 624.

Michael, S.W. 1999. Marine Fishes: 500 + Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species. Microcosm. Shelburne. pp. 448.

Qouy, J.R.C. and Gaimard, P. 1824. Voyage autour de Monde… Execute sur les Corvettes de S.M."L'Uranie" et "L Physicienne" pendant les Annees 1817-1820. Paris: Chez Pillet Aine.

Randall, J.E. 1958. Two new species of Anampses from the Hawaiian Islands, with notes on other labrid fishes of this genus. Jour. Wash. Acad. Sci. 48(3):100-108.

Randall, J.E. 1972. A Revision of the Labrid Fish Genus Anampses. Micronesica. 8(1-2): 151-190.

Ruppell, W.P.E.S. 1828. Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen afrika. Fishe des Rothen Meeres. Frankfurt: Heinr Ludw. Bronner.

Ruppell, W.P.E.S. 1835. Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehorig. Frankfurt.

Whitley, G.P. 1964. Fishes from the Coral Sea and the Swain Reefs. Rec. Austral. Mus. 26(5): 145-195.