Eight-Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia) Care Guide
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia is a benthic Indo-Pacific reef wrasse with eight body lines, feeding on small crustaceans and invertebrates.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia is a lined wrasse of the family Labridae, described by Jenkins in 1901. According to FishBase it ranges across the Indo-Pacific and reaches about 14.0 cm standard length. It is identified by eight longitudinal body lines.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Pseudocheilinus
- Scientific name: Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the Hawaiian and Ducie islands and north to the Yaeyama Islands. It is reef-associated and benthopelagic, found over rubble or live corals of seaward reefs, usually in caves and crevices with invertebrate growth, at depths of 0-50 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness range (KB): 8-12 °dKH
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
FishBase describes it as a benthic carnivore (trophic level about 3.4) that feeds mainly on benthic crustaceans, but also takes small molluscs, echinoids, fish eggs and crab larvae.
Compatibility
An aggressive, reef-associated species. The KB record lists tangs, clownfish and cardinalfish as suitable tankmates, while other lined wrasses and small shy fish should be avoided.
Breeding
FishBase records the species as oviparous with distinct pairing during breeding.
Eight-Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia): Breeding Notes
Overview
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia, the eight-line wrasse, grows to about 14 cm standard length. Wikipedia records it across the Indo-West Pacific from the Comoros and Seychelles to Hawaii, at depths of roughly 2 to 50 metres, where it is a solitary, diurnal carnivore that preys on benthic crustaceans, small molluscs, sea urchins, fish eggs and crab larvae.
Sexing
Like other lined wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that matures first as female, with dominant individuals becoming male; the largest, most intensely coloured fish is typically the terminal male. External sexing is difficult because the species is shy and rarely seen in the open.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Lined wrasses are open-water spawners that pair briefly and ascend to release gametes. The eight-line wrasse is solitary and secretive, sheltering in reef cavities and even forming a mucus cocoon to sleep, which makes natural pairing rare to observe and harder still to stage in a tank.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are released into the water column and the larvae are planktonic. No documented method exists for rearing the larvae in captivity, so aquarium specimens are wild-caught, though the species is not commonly traded.
Common Challenges
Its aggression toward similar fish, solitary habit and pelagic eggs are the main barriers. Keeping two adults together risks fighting, and there is no practical way to capture and raise the dispersing planktonic larvae at home.