HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishGrey wrasse Grey wrasse (Symphodus cinereus) Scientific name: Symphodus cinereus Bonnaterre, 1788 The Grey wrasse (Symphodus cinereus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and from Arcachon basin to Gibraltar. BiologyFound in littoral areas, in eel-grass beds, sometimes on soft bottoms (1-20 m), often in lagoons and estuaries with plenty of vegetation and detritus. Often in aggregation. Feed on shrimps, amphipods, isopods, small gastropods and bivalves. Females spawn in a nest built and guarded by the male. Males grow faster than females. Oviparous.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSymphodus cinereusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length16.0Common length8.0EnvironmentMarine; brackish; demersalClimateSubtropicalDistributionEastern Atlantic: Mediterranean Sea and from Arcachon basin to Gibraltar.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.29-0.35; tm=1-2; tmax=6) More other freshwater fishFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaLined soleAchirus lineatusSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026