Common name: bluehead wrasse
General information
The Bluehead Wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum, is a vibrant and active fish that adds both color and dynamism to a saltwater aquarium. It is known for its striking coloration, which changes dramatically from the juvenile to the adult stage. Juveniles are typically yellow with two black stripes running vertically down their bodies, while adults have a blue head with a green and yellow body, and females may have a white stripe behind the head.
This species is also recognized for its interesting social behavior and hierarchy. Bluehead Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they start life as females and can change to males as they mature, often in response to social cues.
Details
- Recommended minimum volume
- 300 liter (79 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.020 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8 to 8.4
- Average size
- 15 cm (6″)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs swimming space
- Diet
- Carnivore Varied diet incl. frozen foods
- Social
- Harem Males may be territorial
- Reefsafe
- Yes
- Aggression
- Semi aggresive Can be territorial
- Captive bred
- Yes Available as captive-bred
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderPerch-like FishesPerciformes
- FamilyWrassesLabridae
- GenusLunar WrasseThalassoma
- Speciesbluehead wrasseThalassoma bifasciatum (Bloch, 1791)
- SynonymsBermudichthys subfurcatus Nichols, 1920Julis detersor Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1839Julis gillianus Poey, 1860Julis nitida Günther, 1862Julis nitidissima Goode, 1977Labrus bifasciatus Bloch, 1791Labrus bifasciatus torquatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801Labrus bifasciatus torquatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801Labrus ornatus Gronow in Gray, 1854Labrus torquatus Walbaum, 1792Thalassoma bisfaciatum (Bloch, 1791)Thalassoma nitida (Günther, 1862)
Care
Bluehead Wrasses are relatively hardy and adaptable to aquarium life, but they do require a well-established tank with plenty of live rock for hiding and hunting. They are known to jump, so a tightly fitting lid or screen is necessary to prevent escape. These wrasses are voracious eaters and will accept a variety of foods, including frozen and live meaty foods, as well as high-quality marine flake and pellet foods.
Reproduction
In the wild, Bluehead Wrasses form harems consisting of a dominant male and several females. If the dominant male dies, the largest female will often change sex to become the new male. In the aquarium, breeding Bluehead Wrasses can be challenging due to their complex social structure and the need for precise environmental conditions.
Habitat
Bluehead Wrasses are found in a variety of reef habitats, from shallow seagrass beds to deeper coral reefs. They are common in the tropical western Atlantic, ranging from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.