Four-Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia) Care Guide
Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia is a small secretive Pacific reef wrasse with four body lines, feeding on small benthic organisms.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia is a lined wrasse of the family Labridae, described by Schultz in 1960. According to FishBase it occurs in the Pacific Ocean and reaches about 7.5 cm total length. It is a secretive species marked by four body lines.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Pseudocheilinus
- Scientific name: Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to the Hawaiian and Tuamotu islands, south to the Austral Islands. It is reef-associated, found among live coral heads or rubble of seaward reefs at depths of about 6-44 m, where it stays close to the seafloor. Stated temperature range is 25-28 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 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 reports that it feeds on small benthic organisms including copepods, amphipods, alpheid shrimp and larval invertebrates, with a trophic level of about 3.3.
Compatibility
A semi-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.
Conservation status
FishBase lists the IUCN Red List status as Least Concern (2009).
Four-Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia): Breeding Notes
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.