The tiger wrasse, Thallassoma hardwicki, may not be all that uncommon but it is a rare sight to see a fully grown supermale specimen. Hardiwcki wrasses are often seen at the LFS as small 3-4″ specimens which barely display the coloration of mature adults. As it ages, the Hardwicki wrasse will develop more and more of the adult coloration. When an adult specimen has reached full size it is said to be in “terminal phase” and as adults they are more often referred to as Tiger Wrasses because of the pronounced tiger like stripes on it’s back. The specimen in the video is about 9″ long and it was filmed last week at Denver’s Downtown Aquarium.
Terminal phase supermale tiger wrasse, Thallassoma hardwicki
Jake Adams
Jake Adams has been an avid marine aquarist since the mid 90s and has worked in the retail side of the marine aquarium trade for more than ten years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and has been the managing editor of ReefBuilders.com since 2008. Jake is interested in every facet of the marine aquarium hobby from the concepts to the technology, rare fish to exotic corals, and his interests are well documented through a very prolific career of speaking to reef clubs and marine aquarium events, and writing articles for aquarium publications across the globe. His primary interest is in corals which Jake pursues in the aquarium hobby as well as diving the coral reefs of the world.
Share This
Previous Article
E-lite LED light from Elos might be crippled by the LED patent
Next Article
