Thalassoma duperrey (Saddle wrasse)

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Facts

Latin name	Thalassoma duperrey - (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Local name	Saddle wrasse
Family	Labridae - Thalassoma
Origin	East Pacific, Central/West Pacific
Max length	28 cm (11")

As aquarium fish

Minimum volume	800 l (211 gal)
Hardiness	Hardy
Suitable for aquarium	Suitable with care
Reef safe	Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness	Might be aggressive towards other species

Feed

Recommended	Fish Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...) Other invertebrates Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...) Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...)
Maybee	Parasites

Jumps out of open aquaria

This species is known to jump out of open aquaria.

Threat to snails

This species likes eating snails whenever possible.

Can be a threat to small fish

This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.

Threat towards crustaceans

This species poses a threat towards shrimps and crabs etc., which are relatively small.

Demand a very large aquarium when fully grown

This species needs a very large aquarium when fully grown.

Exactly how big the aquarium should be is hard to say, but the size of this species is such, that it cannot normally be kept in a home aquarium.

Requires a varied diet

This species must be fed with an appropriately varied diet.

Frequent feeding

This fish requires feeding several times a day, especially when newly added.

When the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium it requires less frequent feeding.

Lives in a pair

This species can live as a pair (male and female).

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Requires plenty of space for swimming.

This species revels in swimming and requires an aquarium with ample space.

Can be aggressive

This species can be aggressive if they are not provided with adequate space.

Hermaphroditic

This species can change gender from female to male.

When a male is needed, a female changes sex and takes on the role.

Eats Pyramid snails

This species can be used to combat Pyramid snails.

One can of course be unlucky in having an individual that refuses to eat them.

Genus description (Thalassoma)

Thalassoma species are beautiful both as juveniles and as adult fish, even though there is quite a difference in appearance. On the whole, they quickly grow too large for most aquaria and are therefore often offered for sale.

Depending on size they live on everything from Artemia to larger invertebrates like snails, crustaceans and sea urchins. They are well able to smash larger crustaceans on rocks to get pieces small enough to swallow.

Large individuals can be extremely aggressive towards other fish and will happily eat the smaller ones.
They should really be fed three times daily, as they are very active, which incidentally, means they require a lot of swimming space.

Although these Wrasses often dig themselves into the sand, a sandy substrate is not absolutely necessary for them to thrive.

Family description (Labridae)

Wrasses are nearly always seen in reef aquaria, since many of the species are both attractive and useful in battling a range of unwanted invertebrates like i.e. flatworms, pyramide snails.
These fish live of everything from zooplankton to large crustaceans, sea urchins and the like.

The needs and behaviour of Wrasses vary greatly, so it is vital to familiarize oneself with the specific species before buying one.

FishBase

Aquarium trade	Yes
Distribution	Eastern Central Pacific: Johnston (Ref. 11013) and Hawaiian islands.
English common names	Saddle wrasse Saddle-back wrasse
Danish common names	Sadellæbefisk

References and further reading

About references

Bob Fenner. Wrasses of the Genus Thalassoma - Wet Web Media - (English)

Scott W. Michael. 2009. Wrasses and Parrotfishes (Reef Fishes Series Book 5) - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)