HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesBallan wrasse Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) Scientific name: Labrus bergylta Ascanius, 1767 The Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Norway to Morocco, including Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands. Doubtful records from Mediterranean, Adriatic and Marmara seas. BiologyAdults are found in littoral (10-20 m) zone around rocks, offshore reefs, and seaweed. Young often in intertidal areas. All are born females and change sex when they are 4-14 years old. One (or more) female spawns in nest of algae, built by male in a crevice. Feed on crustaceans and mollusks. Oviparous.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameLabrus bergyltaFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length65.9Common length50.0Depth range1–50 m (3–164 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 50 m, usually 2 - 30 mClimateTemperateDistributionEastern Atlantic: Norway to Morocco, including Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands. Doubtful records from Mediterranean, Adriatic and Marmara seas.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1; tmax=29; tm=2-9) More wrassesBlackspot cleaner wrasseLabroides pectoralisBicolor cleaner wrasseLabroides bicolorChristmas wrasseThalassoma trilobatumFivestripe wrasseThalassoma quinquevittatumSurge wrasseThalassoma purpureumYellow-brown wrasseThalassoma lutescensSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026