All fish / Labridae

Lunare Wrasse

Thalassoma lunare

Also known as moon wrasse, crescent wrasse, green moon wrasse, lyretail wrasse, lunar wrasse, blue moon wrasse, crescent-tail wrasse, ปลานกขุนทองหางพระจันทร์, オトメベラ, ikan keling, 新月锦鱼, 绿花衣

A bright green wrasse with pink and blue lines on the head and a crescent-shaped yellow tail, it never stops swimming. It is hardy, cheap and full of character, which makes it a popular choice for large fish-only systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, one per tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped seafood, pellets and flakes, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, Australia and New Zealand

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in the open water, with females able to change into males. Captive breeding is very rare as the eggs and larvae are tiny and pelagic.

Good to know

Grows large and becomes boisterous and aggressive, so avoid small or timid tankmates; it will eat shrimps, crabs, snails and small fish, so it is not reef safe. Needs a tight lid as it jumps.