The slingjaw wrasse needs a large aquarium (i.e., 135 or larger) as an adult and should be provided with plenty of large refuge sites to hide in if threatened. They will spend most of their time slinking from crevice to crevice, but they will also swim in open areas if the tank is in a low traffic area.

Smaller individuals do great in reef aquariums, but as they mature, they are a threat to shrimp and smaller fish.

Beware that these fish are capable of jumping out of open aquariums. This is most likely to occur if they are harassed by tankmates.