Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri) Care Guide

A stunning small wrasse where males display an incredible show of flashing colors — pinks, oranges, and blues during courtship. Peaceful and completely reef-safe.

Overview

Paracheilinus carpenteri is a species in the family Labridae. A stunning small wrasse where males display an incredible show of flashing colors — pinks, oranges, and blues during courtship. Peaceful and completely reef-safe. Males intensify colors when competing with each other. Best kept as one male with several females.

Taxonomy

Family: Labridae
Genus: Paracheilinus
Scientific name: Paracheilinus carpenteri
Origin: Western Pacific

Habitat

Native to the western Pacific from southern Japan to the Philippines, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. Forms harems on rubble slopes at the base of outer reefs at depths of 8-40 m; courting males rapidly "flash" intensified colours and erect their finnage to attract females.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 150 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C
pH: 8.1-8.4
GH: 8-12 °dGH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 6-8 cm
Lifespan: 3-5 years
Difficulty: intermediate

Diet

Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: peaceful
Swimming level: middle
Compatible tank mates: Clownfish, Firefish Goby, Gobies, Tangs
Avoid with: Aggressive Wrasses, Large Predatory Fish

Reef compatibility

Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
Breeding difficulty: advanced