blue-barred parrotfish
Scarus ghobban
Parrotfish of shallow reefs in the Indo-Pacific and the eastern Pacific, which scrapes algae from rocks. It is sold fresh and also alive in markets.
Also called: peixe-papagaio-de-queixo-azul, loro barbazul, loro, bluechin parrotfish
- maximum
- 75 cm
- depth
- 1–90 m
who is the blue-barred parrotfish
The bluechin parrotfish belongs to the family Labridae, the wrasses, which includes the parrotfishes. It reaches 75 cm, and its common size is 30 cm. It lives on reefs and lagoons, at reef edges and slopes, from 1 to 90 m deep. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific and in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Ecuador. It scrapes algae from rocks and corals, and generally lives alone or in small groups. Males are common on the inner and outer edges of barrier reefs. Commercial fishing catches it with nets and other artisanal gear.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the blue-barred parrotfish.
fun facts
- It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: born female, it can change into a male on reaching 29 cm and at 7 years of age.
identification
The adult male has a dark reddish-brown front, with a bright green spot on top of the line running from mouth to eye, up to the top of the operculum. The female is red on the head, belly and fins, with wavy black and white stripes on the flanks and dark green bands around the mouth and eyes. In large fish the tail fin has elongated lobes; in small ones it is rounded.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Occurs in the Indo-Pacific and the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Ecuador, on reefs and lagoons.
Habitat: Shallow reefs and lagoons, with reef edges and slopes, from 1 to 90 m.
rules for the blue-barred parrotfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Harmless to anglers. Its beak-shaped mouth scrapes stone, so hold it with a cloth or glove when handling.
in the kitchen
Sold fresh and also alive, in fish markets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01445, b = 3.04; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Scarus ghobban (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Scarus ghobbanNames by country and language.