Moon Wrasse

Moon Wrasse

The Moon Wrasse or Lunar Wrasse is very popular and readily identified. All the common names of this wrasse are derived from a description it’s tail; Moon Wrasse, Lunar Wrasse, Lunare Wrasse, Crescent Wrasse, and Lyretail Wrasse. This is because as an adult, the yellow caudal fin becomes very ‘lunate’, which means shaped like a crescent moon with long upper and lower lobes. This fish is often confused with the Yellow Moon Wrasse, Thalassoma lutescens, probably due to the cross-over in the common name, but they can quickly be differentiated when compared to each other.

This active wrasse is hardy, easy to maintain, and long-lived in the aquarium. Gaining length up to almost 10″, it is necessary for the Moon Wrasse or Lunar Wrasse to have plenty of swimming room. It is an excellent fish for the community aquarium as it is a peaceful fish, with only secondary males becoming aggressive. This wrasse doesn’t bother corals but it will eat crustaceans and invertebrates. When frightened this fish will hide in the rock work, or may bury itself in the sand