green birdmouth wrasse
| Scientific name | Gomphosus caeruleus |
|---|---|
| Descriptor | Lacépède |
| Year of description | 1801 |
| IUCN category | LC |
| Family | Labridae |
| Genus | Gomphosus |
Introduction
Gomphosus caeruleus, commonly known as green birdmouth wrasse, is a salt water fish.
Who is it?
Morphology
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Average size28 cm
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Maximum size32 cm
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Average size28 cm
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Maximum size32 cm
How to recognize the green birdmouth wrasse ?
The green birdmouth wrasse measures around 28 cm. The dominant males can however reach 32 cm. This fish is tricolore with a predominantly rouge, noir and blanc body.
Sexual dimorphism
The adult male is bigger than the female.
Behaviour & Life cycle
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dietomnivorous with carnivorous tendency
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Sociabilityliving in a group or alone
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territorialNo
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Way of livingdiurnal
The green birdmouth wrasse is a fish living in a group or alone naturally found near the rocks. This species is omnivorous with carnivorous tendency .
Although the green birdmouth wrasse is non-territorial, it is sometimes aggressive towards other species. It also shows signs of aggression towards its conspecifics.
Reproduction
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Reproductionovipare qui pond en eau libre
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Hermaphroditeprotandric
The green birdmouth wrasse is a fish ovipare qui pond en eau libre. This fish always born male. Growing up, individuals will change sex to become female, this is called successive hermaphroditism of the protandrous type.
Harmless species
This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.
Where to find it?
Where to see this species?
What is its habitat?
Natural environment characteristics
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Temperature25 - 29 °C
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Depth0 - 35 m
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FlowStrong and Medium
Biotope presentation
The green birdmouth wrasse is most often found at a depth between 0m and 35m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.
Main recommendations for fishkeeping
Deontology
In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.
Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.
We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.
Our recommendations
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Min volume600 liters
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Population min1
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Temperature25 - 29 °C
Characteristics
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Difficulty breedingmoderate
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Robustnessrobust
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Behaviourslightly aggressive
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Availabilityoccasional
General reminders
It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.
General reminder on maintenance datas
Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.
Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.
Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.
Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.
En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.
Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.
Specific needs for the green birdmouth wrasse
The green birdmouth wrasse is a marine species which lives naturally at a temperature between 25 °C and 29 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 32°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month. In seawater, it is also possible to remove nitrates using one of the following methods: Jaubert, denitrator on sulfur, biopeletts, vodka method.
The breeding of this species is accessible on condition of being well informed about its needs in aquarium . Any cohabitants must be chosen with care to avoid the loss of animals.
This species is generally available in specialized shops or from aquarium clubs. Specimens that have been bred for a long time are easier to breed, but special water parameters must be respected.
Formal incompatibilities
Cohabitation & Environment
In a community aquarium context, this species should be kept in a minimum volume of 600 liters.
As previously said, The green birdmouth wrasse is a species that lives naturally in the current. Thus, we advise the installation of an oversized filtration system (10 to 20 times the volume of the tank) in order to guarantee a strong current and especially a strong oxygenation. A venturi system will improve the dissolved oxygen rate during summer.
Tips for feeding
The green birdmouth wrasse is omnivorous with carnivorous tendency.
This species can eat dry food (flakes, pellets), fresh food and frozen food. To avoid deficiencies, it is recommended to vary the types of food.
You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.
Reproduction protocol
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egg-laying protectionNo
Hybridization risks
In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.
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To go further
Sources & Contributions
Participation & Validation
The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.
Adrien Falzon
Théo Guillaume
Translation
Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.
Bibliographic references
Comportements reproducteurs du labre oiseau Gomphosus caeruleus dans un récif de l’île de la Réunion : mode de reproduction, facteurs environnementaux et alternance des stratégies reproductricesReproductive behavior of the green birdmouth wrasse Gomphosus - Thomas Desvignes - Philippe Bourjon - 2nd Symposium on Mediterranean Groupers - 2018.
[Reproductive behavior of the green birdmouth wrasse Gomphosus caeruleus on a Reunion Island reef: Mode of reproduction, environmental factors and reproductive strategy alternation]. - Thomas Desvignes - Philippe Bourjon - 2nd Symposium on Mediterranean Groupers - 2017.
Where to see this species?
Tags
Species of the same family
Same genus
bird wrasse
Labridae
Species of the same biotope
Scientific partners
