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Related FAQs: Stethojulis Wrasses, Wrasses, Wrasse
Selection, Wrasse
Behavior, Wrasse Compatibility, Wrasse
Feeding, Wrasse Diseases,
Related Articles: The Diversity of Wrasses, Family
Labridae, Cook Islands Wrasses,
/The Conscientious Marine Aquarist
Wrasses
of the Genus Stethojulis
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By Bob Fenner
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Stethojulis albovittata, Maldives |
The common name of this group is the Ribbon Wrasses, but if it were up
to me I’d call them the "Beautiful Zoomers" for their bold coloration and
spastic reef cruising; these fishes are constantly going 110%! Though Stethojulis are
planktivorous and don’t get too large (most are about six inches long maximum) they
do have one shortcoming: they rarely live for any time in captivity. They should only be
tried in HUGE, well-established reef systems.
Stethojulis balteata (Quoy &
Gaimard 1824), the Belted Wrasse (3), is an Hawaiian
endemic. This is the most common and hardiest member of the genus, but still has a dismal
survival rate. Two male pix and a female off of the Big Island. To six inches long.
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| Stethojulis bandanensis (Bleeker 1851), the
Red-Shoulder Wrasse. Indo-Pacific, from eastern Africa to the tropical
eastern Pacific coast. To six inches in length. Shown: Males in French
Polynesia and S. Sulawesi. |
 
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| Stethojulis strigiventer (Bennett 1832), the
Stripebelly Wrasse. Females are actually striped on their abdomens. East
Africa to Samoa, Micronesians. A male off of the Whitsundays in
Queensland, Australia, and a nice grouping of females/initial phase
individuals in S. Sulawesi. |
 
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| Stethojulis trilineata (Bloch & Schneider 1801),
the Three-Lined Wrasse. Indo-West Pacific; Maldives to north Australia,
Palau, Samoa, southern Japan. To six inches in length. A washed-out male
in captivity and one in S. Sulawesi shown. |
 
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There are a few other Stethojulis species that enter the trade under
their name or "misc." categories... None of them live for very long.
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