Four-Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia): Breeding Notes

Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia is a small, secretive Pacific lined wrasse. It is oviparous with pelagic larvae and is not bred in home aquaria.

Overview

Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia, the four-line wrasse, is the smaller relative of the six-line wrasse, reaching about 7.5 cm. FishBase records it in the Pacific from Japan to the Hawaiian and Tuamotu islands at depths of roughly 6 to 44 metres, where it hides around the base of small coral heads, especially Pocillopora, and is never seen more than a few centimetres off the bottom.

Sexing

Lined wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites in which the largest dominant fish is the terminal male. Because the four-line wrasse is small and reclusive, external sexing is unreliable, and the dominant male is identified mainly by its size and behaviour.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

FishBase describes distinct pairing during breeding. A pair leaves the cover of coral, rises briefly into the water column and releases gametes. The species' habit of staying within centimetres of the substrate and its secretive nature make this courtship hard to witness or stage.

Egg & Fry Care

The eggs are pelagic and disperse into the plankton, where larvae spend their early life. No documented method exists for raising these larvae in captivity, so aquarium stock comes from wild collection.

Common Challenges

Aggression toward other lined wrasses and shy fish, plus the broadcast pelagic spawning mode, leave no practical route to home propagation. A bonded pair is difficult to maintain, and the planktonic larvae cannot be reared with standard aquarium equipment.