Filamented Flasher Wrasse

Common name: Filamented Flasher Wrasse, Filament-fin Wrasse, Filamentous Wrasse
Scientific name: Paracheilinus filamentosus
Max size: 4 in / 10 cm
pH: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: 1.020-1.025
Temperature: 72-78ºF (22-26°C)

The Filamented flasher wrasse is also known by the names Filamented Flasher Wrasse, Filament-fin Wrasse and Filamentous Wrasse. Like all flasher wrasses this is a spectacular species that can be the star in any reef setup. It is very popular but just like most flasher wrasses it can be hard to get by as the demand is larger than the supply for this fish. It is not always available in the trade but if you have patience you should be able to get a hold of this species by asking your local fish store to order it for you or by ordering it yourself over the Internet.

The Filamented flasher wrasse has an orange body white red and purple stripes on it. The fins are red with purple edges and the dorsal fin yellow with purple fin rays. The eyes are orange just like the body.

The Filamented flasher wrasse is friendly towards other fishes, but you should not keep more than one male in the aquarium unless it is a very large aquarium. Flasher wrasse males of other species should also be avoided. If you want to house several Filamented flasher wrasses together, keep one male together with a group of females in a harem. You should, if possible, introduce all members of the harem at the same time. If this is not possible you should introduce the females first. Don't wait too long after introducing the females to introduce the male or the dominant female might turn into a male. (More info about this can be found further down this article.) 

The Filamented flasher wrasse is ideal for a reef community aquarium and can be kept with most other friendly species. Don't keep them with aggressive species or large wrasses. The Filamented flasher wrasse is considered reef save and will leave everything except very small shrimp and other micro invertebrates alone.

This species is suitable for intermediate and advanced marine aquarium keepers. The Filamented flasher wrasses can be somewhat sensitive during the first few weeks before they have adapted to their new surroundings and are therefore not recommended for beginners.

These fishes need to be introduced to new aquariums slowly and I suggest allowing them 4 hours to acclimatize before releasing them into a new tank. The Filamented flasher wrasse is very shy the first few days after being introduced into a new tank and it might take a few days before you even see it again.

The Filamented flasher wrasses originate from the Indo Pacific Ocean where they are found in the Malay Archipelago and eastwards to the Andaman Sea and Christmas Island.

Filamented Flasher Wrasse care and aquarium setup:

The Filamented flasher wrasse should be provided with an aquarium that is no smaller than 20 gallon / 80 L. A larger aquarium is recommended if you want to keep a harem.

For your Filamented flasher wrasses to show their stunning self you need to provide them with an environment in which they feel safe and at home. To do this you need to give them enough hiding places. Decorate the tank so that plenty of caves and overhangs are created among live rock. The bottom should be covered with a layer of sand that should be at least 2 in / 5 cm deep. If you don't provide your Filamented flasher wrasses with enough suitably sized hiding places they will become very shy and you will seldom see your fish.

The aquarium should ideally be well lit, but the Filamented flasher wrasse prefers if there are a few shaded areas in the tank as well.

They are very good jumpers and it is important that you always cover your aquarium well if you don't want them to jump to their death. The Filamented flasher wrasse can jump through the smallest hole in the cover so make sure that you cover every inch of your tank.

Ideal water conditions for the Filamented flasher wrasse is pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025, and temperature 72-78ºF (22-26°C).

Feeding Filamented Flasher Wrasse

The Filamented flasher wrasse is a zooplankton feeder in the wild. In an aquarium they should be fed very small food such as finely chopped shrimps, crabs and clams. They can also be fed small frozen food such as daphnia and brine shrimp. Try to feed them a really varied diet to ensure optimal health and coloration. Filamented flasher wrasses will often but not always accept flake food. Their diet can be complemented with shrimp mix or similar food that contains both meaty food and vegetables. Feed them 3-4 times a day.

Breeding Filamented Flasher Wrasse

The Filamented flasher wrasse lives in harems in the wild, with each harem consisting of one dominant male and several females. Sometimes there can also be subordinate males in the harem. These do not defend a territory like the dominant male and are waiting to take the place of the dominant male if he dies. The Filamented flasher wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite. Protogynous hermaphrodites are animals where all specimens are born female and only develop into males if necessary, e.g. if the dominant male fall prey to a predator and there is no subordinate male to take his place. In such a situation, the dominant female will turn into a male. This process can take as little as 10-14 days.

Sexing the Filamented flasher wrasse can be done due to the fact that the male is larger and more colorful than females. As the Filamented flasher wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite you can buy a group of juvenile Filamented flasher wrasses and be sure to get a harem.

They are egg scatters and the Filamented flasher wrasse releases its egg in open water. Eggs and larvae are carried by the current, but the fry make their way to the bottom after becoming free swimming.

The Filamented flasher wrasse spawning is preceded by a "dance" where the male and female swims around near the bottom. At a certain point in the dance they dart upwards in to the open water and simultaneously release eggs and milt before darting back to the bottom. The entire process is over in the blink of an eye.

The Filamented flasher wrasse has as far as we know not been bred in home aquariums. It is possible that a large and high aquarium is necessary to breed this small species, since it might be necessary to give it enough room to perform its natural breeding behavior.

Wrasse Articles:

Bird Wrasse – Gomphosus varius
Dragon Wrasse  - Novaculichthys taeniourus
Harliquin Tuskfish – Coerodon fasciatus
Hogfish - Information about Hogfish
Neon Wrasse – Halichoeres melanurus
Ornate Wrasse – Halichoeres ornatissimus
Queen Coris – Coris frerei
Radient Wrasse – Halichoeres iridis
Spanish Hogfish – Bodianus rufus
Striated Wrasse – Pseudocheilinus evanidus
Yellow Coris – Halichoeres chrysus

Line Wrasses:
Fourline Wrasse – Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia
Sixline Wrasse – Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Eightline Wrasse – Pseudocheilinus octotaenia

Fairy Wrasses:
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse – Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse – Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Scott's Fairy Wrasse – Cirrhilabrus scottorum
Solar Fairy Wrasse – Cirrhilabrus solorensis

Flasher Wrasses:
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse – Paracheilinus carpenteri
Dot-and-Dash Flasher Wrasse – Paracheilinus lineopunctatus
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse – Paracheilinus mccoskeri