TankBud

Bluehead wrasse

Thalassoma bifasciatum

Also known as Bluehead, Blue-Headed Wrasse, Two-Band Wrasse

SaltwaterFish

Bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum)
(c) Jay Brasher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
7.1 in
18 cm
Minimum tank
74 gal
280 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Not reef safe
Family
Labridae
Origin
Native to coral reefs of the tropical western Atlantic, including Florida, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Overview

The bluehead wrasse is a fast-swimming Caribbean reef wrasse for the middle of a large saltwater tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

Young bluehead wrasses set up cleaning stations. They pick parasites off much larger fish that line up for the service.

Caring for the bluehead wrasse

Give a bluehead wrasse at least 74 gal (280 L), with a lid, since it can jump. It uses rockwork for shelter and sleeps buried in sand at night.

Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed meaty foods such as mysis and chopped seafood.

The bluehead wrasse is mostly peaceful and does fine alone or in a group. It may harass new additions, so add it late. It is not reef safe and will eat ornamental shrimp, small crabs and feather dusters, though it leaves corals alone. Large terminal males have a blue head and a green body split by black bars, while smaller fish are yellow.

Good to know

Thalassoma bifasciatum is an Atlantic member of the wrasse family Labridae. It is a classic subject in studies of fish sex change and mating. Individuals can mature as females or males, and dominant females can switch to become large terminal males. It also goes by bluehead or two-band wrasse.

In the wild

The bluehead wrasse lives on coral reefs of the tropical western Atlantic, including Florida, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. It is one of the most common fish on Caribbean reefs, where it swims actively over coral and sand. As it grows, it hunts small invertebrates.

Common questions

What size tank does a bluehead wrasse need?

A bluehead wrasse needs at least 74 gal (280 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a bluehead wrasse need?

A bluehead wrasse is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a bluehead wrasse eat?

A bluehead wrasse eats meaty foods such as mysis and chopped seafood. It will also eat ornamental shrimp, small crabs and feather dusters.

How big does a bluehead wrasse get?

An adult bluehead wrasse reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).

How can you tell a male bluehead wrasse from a female?

Large terminal male bluehead wrasses have a blue head and a green body split by black bars. Smaller fish are yellow.

Related species