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Related FAQs: Thalassoma Wrasses,
Thalassoma Wrasses 2, Thalassoma Identification,
Thalassoma Behavior, Thalassoma
Compatibility, Thalassoma Selection,
Thalassoma Systems, Thalassoma
Feeding, Thalassoma Disease,
Thalassoma Reproduction,
Wrasses, Wrasse
Selection, Wrasse
Behavior, Wrasse Compatibility, Wrasse
Feeding, Wrasse Diseases,
Related Articles: The Diversity of Wrasses, Family
Labridae, Cook Islands Wrasses,
/The Conscientious Marine Aquarist
Wrasses
of
the Genus Thalassoma
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By Bob Fenner
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T. lutescens, T. bifasciatum |
Thalassoma wrasses comprise several cigar-shaped, fast swimming, robust
and to a degree aggressive fishes of good to okay to poor aquarium use. The larger species
when shipped of size and from far away (long times in the bag) suffer especially. Most
species stop growing at about six inches, though a few about double that in the wild. Like
most wrasses they are good with only one male to a tank, and need soft sand to dig and
sleep in.
| Thalassoma ballieui (Vaillant & Sauvage 1875),
the Blacktail Wrasse (1), a newer import from the Hawaiian
Islands. To fifteen inches long. A rather plain, but hardy species for fish-only
systems. Eastern central Pacific, Hawai'i and Midway Islands. Aquarium and one off of Oahu. |
 
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Thalassoma bifasciatum (Bloch 1791), the Bluehead Wrasse (2), one of the most common
reef fishes of the tropical west Atlantic. Females and juveniles yellow above, white
below, with some dark markings. Shown, male and female specimens in the Bahamas.
Females to about five inches in length, males to near twice that. Below:
juvenile/initial phase individuals in the Bahamas and Bonaire, initial phase in
Bonaire and a terminal phase individual in the Bahamas.
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Thalassoma duppery (Quoy &
Gaimard 1824), the Saddle Wrasse (2) is the most common reef fish
in its endemic Hawaiian Islands. To ten inches in length. A juvenile, changing and two
terminal (male) individuals in Hawaii.
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Thalassoma hardwicke (Bennett 1830), the Six-Barred Wrasse (3). Indo-Pacific, to eight
inches. The first one in the Maldives, the second in the Cooks.
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Thalassoma hebraicum (Lacepede 1801), the Goldbar Wrasse (1), my pick of the genus.
Hardy and beautiful. Indian Ocean, to nine inches in length. This one in the
Seychelles.
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Thalassoma jansenii (Bleeker 1856), Jansen's Wrasse.
Indo-West Pacific. To eight inches. Not a great beauty but hardy by standards
for the genus (2). Specimen in a tank in a Fiji wholesaler's and Australia.
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Thalassoma lucasanum (Gill 1862), the Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (2) AKA (for males) the
Lollipop Wrasse. This tropical east Pacific beauty can be "hard as nails" if not
beat up in collection/shipping. To six inches in length. Some very young
specimens and a terminal phase individual in the Galapagos and a couple, male
to the left in Baja.
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Thalassoma lunare (Linnaeus 1758), the Moon Wrasse (2), sometimes comes in great, other
times... all die. Red Sea and Indian Ocean, to the Line Islands. Length to ten inches.
Can be more green or blue in overall coloration. Young have a dark spot on their
caudal and mid-dorsal fins. A male off of Gili
Air, Lombok, Indonesia, and female in the Red Sea.
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Thalassoma lutescens (Lay & Bennett 1839), the Yellow Moon Wrasse (2). West Pacific and
eastern Indian Ocean, to ten inches. Easily confused with the more common Moon Wrasse, T.
lunare. Here are images of an initial phase individual and male in the
Cook Islands, and another in Nuka Hiva, Marquesas.
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Thalassoma purpureum (Forsskal 1775), the Surge Wrasse (3). Indo-Pacific, to
more than one foot
long. This one in the Seychelles.
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Thalassoma quinquevittatum (Lay & Bennett 1839), the Red-Ribbon Wrasse (3). Indo-Pacific, to
six inches. Aquarium image.
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Thalassoma rueppellii (Klunzinger 1871), Klunzinger’s Wrasses
(2). One of the few
"klunkers" from the Red Sea. To eight inches maximum length. Formerly
and often still misidentified as T. klunzingeri.
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Thalassoma trilobatum (Lacepede 1801), I wish was called the Three-Line Wrasse, but
it’s another of the Christmas Wrasses (just how many labrids are green and red
anyway?)(3). To twelve inches overall length. This image taken in Hawai'i.
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Bibliography/Further Reading:
Anon. 1997. Sex on the brain (re the Bluehead Wrasse). TFH
4/97.
Biagi, Mark. 1998. The Bluehead Wrasse. FAMA 2/98.
Church, James Lee. 1980. The rainbow wrasse, Thalassoma lucasanum.
TFH 5/80.
Stratton Richard F. 1990. The Hawaiian saddle wrasse. TFH 6/90.
Stratton, Richard F. 1991. The sunset wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens).
TFH 6/91.
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