Home > Aquarium coverage > Fish Tank > Archives > 2006 > February > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNapoleon wrasse now in Ocean Voyager gallery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Aquarium
Napoleon wrasse roams Ocean Voyager.
Seven Napoleon wrasse, pointy-nosed fish from the Great Barrier Reef that can grow to 7 feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds, are now swimming in the Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean Voyager tank.
The giant fish, sometimes called the Maori wrasse because the delicate patterns on its face resemble the tattoos of New Zealand’s Maori warriors, are sharing space with two whale sharks, a bowmouth guitarfish and thousands of other fish.
The Napoleon wrasse’ bright color and unique characteristics truly add to the Ocean Voyager exhibit,” said Tim Binder, Georgia Aquarium’s director of husbandry.
The species inhabits the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
“Most of these wrasses begin their lives as females,” said Paul Clarkson, manager of animal quarantine.
“As they mature, some of them will go through a sex change. They will change from animals with female sex organs to animals with male reproductive organs. They’ll change color. They’ll change size, and they’ll get a crest on their head.”
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By truedawg
February 22, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this
hallaluja!!!
By joseph
February 22, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this
So…can we rename them to the Michael Jackson wrasse?
By Prince-The Purple One
February 22, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
So are the sex organs changing color and size or just the fish’s face?
By diana johnson
February 22, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this
at what age do they have babies
By Nemo
February 22, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this
The Georgia Aquarium ROCKS!
By brent
February 22, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this
I agree with the previous post, they should identify the one that change from male to female, and rename that one “Michael Jackson”…or “Def Leppard” if it is the entire group that changes sex.
By ChrisD
February 22, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this
Def Leppard changed their sex? Huh? That’s a new one.
By BPJ
February 22, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this
Little known fact: after they change from female to male, they are much less willing to stop and ask the other fish for directions. On the other hand, they don’t worry so much about whether they look fat compared to the eels.
By Greg
February 22, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
I saw the Napoleon Wrasse Monday. They are very cool looking fish! If you have not been to the Georgia Aquarium, go! We stayed from 9-3 and had a great time. The place got pretty crowded because it was a holiday, but you could still see anything you wanted to see.
By gtgd
February 22, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this
there’s a sub species that makes a whining noise called the JJ Wrasse-dick.
By gtgd
February 22, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this
said sub-species is said to be found primarily in waters around Duke University.
By Chuck Norris
February 22, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this
Only I can make a female Napoleon wrasse become a male. The Napoleon wrasse become males when I tell them to!
By Mr. T
February 22, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this
I pity the fish that changes sexes like that, I’ll pity it soooo hard….