Eight Line Flasher Wrasse

Eight Line Flasher Wrasse, Paracheilinus octotaenia, are spectacular looking fish.

They have narrow, dart like bodies and extravagant colouration. Eight Line Flasher Wrasse have red orange bodies, that sport thin electric blue stripes. Bright white bellies highlight their glamour, as do their large, vivid red fins. Males are distinguished by the long spine on their dorsal fin.

The name “Flasher wrasse” broadly describes the Paracheilinus genus. The name comes from distinctive courtship displays the males put on. The brightly coloured boys dart around, flashing their fins at potential partners. While keeping other males away by showing off their spine.

Eight Line Flasher Wrasse, Paracheilinus octotaenia, Ecology.

Eight Line Flasher Wrasse live in the Red sea. They live on seawards reefs amongst coral heads. The complex structures of the coral branches help the wrasse avoid predation. Unlike some species, these fish do not bury themselves to sleep or hide. Instead they have an incredibly nifty trick. In order to sleep safely, Eight Line Flasher Wrasse find a nook and envelope themselves in a protective mucus coat. Supposedly, this hides the wrasses scent from predators. These sticky invisibility cloaks do not degrade your water quality like some coral wax jackets’ might.

Eight Line Flasher Wrasse live in groups with one dominant male to a few or more females. These fish are protogynous hermaphrodites. Which means that, when they get old enough, breeding females transition into a male. As a result, all juveniles are immature females.

Wrasse In the Aquarium.

It is important to imitate the natural environment by providing plenty of nooks and crannies for the fish to hide in. Hobbyists should invest in a jump guard to prevent any unfortunate mishaps.

Eight Line Flasher Wrasse do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept enriched frozen mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. They will also devour live foods, such as copepods and amphipods, that can be cultivated in attached refugium. Over time they will accept high-quality pellet or flake. We adapt all our wrasse to aquarium life before they leave us. We focus on their health, and most are eating a good quality flake food and/or pellet, such as JBL Maris, before being offered for sale.