Saltwater
Surge wrasse
Thalassoma purpureum
Labridae, Corinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 46 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 2,126 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in American Samoa, Australia, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cook Islands, Ecuador, and 36 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Found almost exclusively in the surge zone of outer reef flats, reef margins, and rocky coastlines, down to a depth of about 10 m. Benthopelagic. Occur in groups of females that are spread out over large reef sections and dominated by few males. Males grow much larger than females. Feed on small invertebrates (crabs, sea urchins, brittlestars, mollusks), small fishes, echinoids, ophiuroids and polychaetes. Protogynous.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Julis semicoeruleus
- Julis umbrostygma
- Scarus purpureus
- Thalassoma purpurea
- Thalassoma purpurem
- Thalassoma semicaeruleus
In other languages
- Green-blocked wrasse, Parrotfish, Purple wrasse, Red and green wrasse, Wrasse
Articles
All articles
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
From freshwater to saltwater3 min read
What is different in a saltwater aquarium: salt, refractometer, live rock and corals. An introduction for anyone thinking of giving it a try.