Bluehead (Thalassoma bifasciatum)

Scientific name: Thalassoma bifasciatum Bloch, 1791

The Bluehead (Thalassoma bifasciatum) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 23–26°C (73–79°F). Native range: Western Atlantic, Bermuda, Florida (USA), southeastern Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean Sea to northern South America.

Bluehead care at a glance

Temperature: 23–26°C (73–79°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. Body elongate; 3 primary color phases, the smallest with a black mid-lateral stripe which continues as pale red blotches on head; back above stripe yellow on reef fish and whitish on fish from inshore non-reef areas, and body below white. The largest phase, has a bright blue head and a green body with two broad vertical black bars anteriorly which are separated by a light blue interspace; this phase is always male. The small yellow phase with the black stripe may be either male or female.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Thalassoma bifasciatum
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 25.0
Depth range: 0–40 m (0–131 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 40 m, usually 3 - 30 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), southeastern Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean Sea to northern South America.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (k=0.7; tmax=3)