Paine's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus paineorum) Care Guide
Paracheilinus paineorum is a flasher wrasse described in 2016 from Indonesia and Timor-Leste, found on tropical reef slopes.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Paracheilinus paineorum is a reef-associated wrasse of the family Labridae. FishBase records that it was described in 2016 by Allen, Erdmann and Yusmalinda, making it a recently described species. It is found in the Western Central Pacific.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Paracheilinus
- Scientific name: Paracheilinus paineorum
- Described by: Allen, Erdmann & Yusmalinda, 2016
Habitat
FishBase records the species from Indonesia and Timor-Leste, in tropical, reef-associated marine waters at depths of 15-65 metres.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH: 8-12
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
Diet
The species is carnivorous. Like other flasher wrasses it feeds on small planktonic and benthic invertebrates.
Compatibility
Paine's flasher wrasse is a peaceful, reef-safe, mid-water species. Like its congeners it is best kept with non-aggressive reef fish and away from aggressive damselfishes.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Not Evaluated, as reported by FishBase.
Paine's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus paineorum): Breeding Notes
Overview
Paracheilinus paineorum is a flasher wrasse described in 2016. According to Reef Builders it was erected for a cryptic species previously lumped within the filamented flasher wrasse complex, occurring around Manado in Sulawesi and through central Indonesia, with the true P. filamentosus restricted further east. FishBase lists it as a reef-associated species from the Western Central Pacific.
Sexing
Reef Builders notes that, like its sister species P. xanthocirritus, males carry highly lunate caudal fins and copiously filamented fins and develop distinctive nuptial colours during flashing. Females and juveniles are plainer and lack the extended fin elements.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As a member of the genus, P. paineorum spawns through the characteristic flasher display in which males intensify colour and dash past females in mixed groups around dusk, then pairs rise into the water column to release gametes. Wild hybridisation with related flasher wrasses has been documented.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs are pelagic and float into the plankton. No captive larval-rearing protocol is documented for this recently described species, so any aquarium specimens originate from wild collection.
Common Challenges
Beyond the universal flasher-wrasse obstacles of dusk courtship and pelagic eggs, P. paineorum is taxonomically young and rarely studied, so even its captive spawning behaviour is poorly documented compared with the broader genus.