All fish / Labridae

Five-stripe Wrasse

Thalassoma quinquevittatum

Also known as fivestripe wrasse, five stripe wrasse, red-ribbon wrasse, red ribbon wrasse, fivestripe surge wrasse, surge wrasse, ハコベラ, 五带锦鱼, 五纹锦鱼

A slim, fast-swimming wrasse with green and pink to red stripes across its body and blue-green markings on the head. Keepers value it for its bright colours and constant activity in large fish-only or robust reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, one per tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped seafood, quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia

Breeding

It spawns in open water as pairs or groups and can change sex from female to male. Breeding in home aquariums has not been reported.

Good to know

It is boisterous and will eat small fish, shrimps, crabs, snails and other small invertebrates, so it is not safe for most reef tanks. Keep a tight lid on the tank because it jumps, and give it plenty of open swimming room.