Pudding Wife Wrasse (Halichoeres radiatus)

Nobody quite agrees on where the name "Pudding Wife" came from — theories range from old Caribbean fishing slang to a mistranslation lost a couple centuries back — but the fish itself is a straightforward, hardy Atlantic wrasse that dives into the sand the instant it feels threatened or when the lights go out. Like most wrasses, it passes through multiple color phases on the way to adulthood, so the fish you bring home won't look quite the same in a year. Active, opportunistic, and a good bristleworm and pest-snail patrol for a larger reef.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Semi-aggressive · Max size: ~15" · Min tank: 100+ gal, sand bed · Diet: Carnivore, meaty foods