Head to head
Ballan Wrasse vs Corkwing Wrasse
Ballan Wrasse
VS Corkwing Wrasse
The ballan wrasse and the corkwing wrasse are two of the commonest wrasses of rocky shores around Britain and Ireland, and rock-pool explorers and divers often meet both in the same weedy gullies.
| Ballan Wrasse | Corkwing Wrasse | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Labrus bergylta | Symphodus melops |
| Relationship | A fellow member of the wrasse family, in a different genus from the corkwing | A fellow member of the wrasse family, in a different genus from the ballan |
| Size | The largest wrasse in north-eastern Atlantic waters, often 30 to 50 cm long | Usually only 10 to 25 cm long |
| Appearance | A heavy body with thick lips, ranging from green to brown to reddish, often with pale spots or blotches | A deep body with a pointed snout, a dark spot on the base of the tail, and a dark mark near the gill cover |
| Diet | Crabs, shrimps, snails, mussels, and other shellfish, crushed with strong teeth in its throat | Small crustaceans, snails, and other shellfish found among the rocks and seaweed |
| Breeding | Is born female and later changes into a male, who builds a nest of seaweed on the rocks and guards the eggs | The male turns blue and green with a reddish or orange belly in the breeding season, builds a nest of seaweed in a rock crevice, and guards the eggs |
| Human use | Is put into salmon farms as a cleaner fish to eat sea lice | Not used for any large-scale purpose, and prized mainly by rock-pool watchers and divers |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though slow growth and local fishing can reduce numbers | Least Concern, widespread and common along rocky coasts |
Ballan Wrasse vs Corkwing Wrasse: common questions
Which wrasse is bigger?
The ballan wrasse, often 30 to 50 cm long, while the corkwing wrasse usually reaches only 10 to 25 cm.
Why are ballan wrasse used on salmon farms?
They eat the sea lice that infest farmed salmon, so they are used as cleaner fish, a form of biological pest control.
Do both build nests?
Yes, the males of both species build nests of seaweed on the rocks, where females lay eggs that the males guard.