The filamented flasher wrasse inhabits rubble zones in passages and outer reef slopes. It forms large shoals most commonly at depths of 70 feet, although small shoals may also be observed at depths of thirty feet or less. There is some geographical variation in the male’s coloration based on the presence of similar species in the same general vicinity.
The male is a very attractive fish with a crescent-shaped (lunate) caudal fin and greatly prolonged dorsal rays. Both males and females possess four or five narrow red to blue stripes, which alternate in length. Some females (depending on geographic location) also have elongate dorsal rays, although they are much shorter than the male’s in all cases.
Supplement raw meaty marine flesh with some type of herbivorous food such as a flake food formulated for herbivores (e.g. Sea Veggies Flakes)or seaweed strips like Sea Veggies or nori. Nearly all flasher wrasses will readily take commercially prepared pellet foods, frozen foods, and food mixes like Blue Zoo Mix.
Flasher wrasses have a high metabolism and should be fed several small meals a day rather than two large meals. Alternatively use a refugium as part of the system’s filtration. This will provide a constant food supply of small live foods (e.g. copepods).
Expect male filamented flasher wrasses to display their colors and finnage (“flashing”) to other males and available females. To insure the male does not lose its color, keep one male with two or more females, or keep two males of different species of flasher wrasses in the same sufficiently large aquarium.
To learn more about flasher wrasses, see the article on genus Paracheilinus in the resources section of the Blue Zoo website.
Flasher wrasses are a great substitute for harder to keep anthias.
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