{"product_id":"lime-wrasse","title":"Lime Wrasse | Thalassoma lutescens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Lime Wrasse, also known as the Sunset or Banana Wrasse, is a big, boisterous and beautifully coloured wrasse that is always on the move. Males develop striking green, yellow and pink patterning as they mature. It is a hardy, hungry fish that reaches around 30 cm, so it needs a large system and robust tankmates rather than a delicate reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThalassoma lutescens ranges widely across the Indo-Pacific, favouring shallow reef flats, lagoons and seaward slopes with sand patches and rubble. It is an energetic open-water swimmer that hunts across the reef by day and buries in the sand at night. In the aquarium it wants open swimming space, a sand bed to dive into and secure rockwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eColour changes dramatically with age and sex. Juveniles and females are yellowish-green, while terminal males become vivid green to blue-green with pink or lavender facial markings and yellow across the body. It is a powerfully built, torpedo-shaped wrasse. A healthy specimen is alert, feeds eagerly and shows full, bright colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a spirited, semi-aggressive wrasse that grows large and can bully smaller or more timid fish, particularly as it matures. It suits a fish-only or robust mixed system alongside tangs, larger wrasses, angelfish and other assertive fish. Add it last so it does not dominate new arrivals, and keep only one per tank unless the system is very large.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore that feeds enthusiastically on meaty foods. Offer mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and quality frozen and pellet foods, fed once or twice daily. Its constant activity means it appreciates several small feeds. In the wild it preys on crustaceans and small invertebrates, which explains its appetite for mobile tank inhabitants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 285 L, with 470 L or larger recommended for an adult. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. A deep, soft sand bed is essential so the fish can bury at night, and a tight-fitting lid is a must, as these wrasses are accomplished jumpers. It is not considered reef safe: it will eat ornamental shrimp, small crustaceans, snails and worms, and may nip at coral polyps while foraging.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding is not achieved in home aquaria. Like other Thalassoma wrasses it is a pelagic spawner, releasing eggs and sperm into open water where the larvae drift as plankton for an extended period. These requirements are beyond normal aquarium conditions, so keepers should focus on providing a large, stable system and a varied diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThalassoma lutescens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLime Wrasse (Sunset \/ Banana Wrasse)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific reef flats, lagoons and slopes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 8–10 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive; active and boisterous\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e285 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e470 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; mysis, brine, chopped seafood and quality prepared foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge fish-only or robust mixed systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot reef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include tangs, larger wrasses, angelfish, rabbitfish, triggers and other robust, similarly sized fish that can hold their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with ornamental shrimp, small crustaceans, snails and other prized mobile invertebrates, as well as very small, timid or slow fish that it will harass.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234140340515,"sku":null,"price":32.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234140373283,"sku":"BA9112","price":37.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234140406051,"sku":null,"price":42.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-25cm)","offer_id":55351941529891,"sku":null,"price":47.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Lime_Wrasse_Juv_Thalassoma_lutescens_44aacfe2-d095-4b48-988d-e51129c8d642.jpg?v=1781681625","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/lime-wrasse","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}