Line-spot Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus lineopunctatus
A spectacular, seldom-traded marine wrasse from the Philippines. Recognized by dashed lines and reddish dots, it demands ample open water and a fine sand bed for peaceful resting.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
8.1 - 8.4
Water type
Marine
Tank level
All levels
Adult size
7 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 200 L
Minimum group
>= 3
GH
15 - 25 dGH
KH
8 - 12 dKH
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Philippine archipelago within the Coral Triangle. Inhabits seaward coral reefs and current-swept channels, typically at depths of 15 to 35 meters, where it stays close to branching corals and rubble fields.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Labridae, genus Paracheilinus. Features a slender, streamlined body. Males possess dorsal fins with multiple thin, thread-like filaments extending upwards. Adult maximum size is about 7 cm.
Social Behavior: Schooling species that lives in small harems led by a single dominant male. Males spend substantial energy swimming in the water column, showing off their colors and expanding their fins to court females.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Males exhibit dotted and dashed red and blue longitudinal lines, scattered spots on the sides, and a rounded tail. Females are smaller, plain pinkish-orange, with faint bluish markings.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Needs an aquarium of at least 200 liters with plenty of open swimming room. A fine sand bed of 2-3 cm is necessary for night-time shelter, alongside live rock caves. A tight-fitting lid is essential to prevent jumping.
Diet and Feeding: Planktivore. In captivity, feed frequently (2-3 times daily) with small frozen foods like copepods, rotifers, brine shrimp, and finely chopped mysis. Can be trained to accept quality dry micro-granules or flakes.
Water Quality: Reef parameters are required: temperature 22-26°C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity (SG) 1.020-1.025, GH 15-25, KH 8-12. Provide good water movement and high dissolved oxygen using a protein skimmer.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef safe. Ideal for coral reef community tanks. Do not house with aggressive fishes or large, fast-swimming competitors. Keep only one male with multiple females of the same species.
Aquarium Breeding: Undocumented in home aquariums. They are protogynous hermaphrodites and pelagic spawners. Mating occurs in open water during a rapid upward spawning run towards the surface.
Risks and Diseases: High jumping risk if the tank is uncovered. Acclimation stress. The absence of a fine sand bed can lead to chronic stress and physical damage to the snout. Vulnerable to marine ich (Cryptocaryon) and velvet.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the Philippine archipelago within the Coral Triangle. Inhabits seaward coral reefs and current-swept channels, typically at depths of 15 to 35 meters, where it stays close to branching corals and rubble fields.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsSouth and Southeast Asia
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- They have an incredibly peaceful and shy disposition. Males flash their fins but rarely harm tank mates. They are easily bullied by more boisterous tank species.
- Diet
- Carnivore
- They are planktivores that feed on zooplankton. In captivity, they readily accept frozen mysis and brine shrimp. High-quality marine flakes can also be offered daily.
- Life expectancy
- 3-5 years
- In captivity, the Line-spot Flasher Wrasse typically lives for 3 to 5 years under optimal conditions. Their lifespan depends heavily on a stable reef environment, low stress, and a nutritious, varied diet. A secure aquarium cover is mandatory, as jumping due to being startled is a frequent cause of premature mortality.
- Adult size
- 7 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 7 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 7 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Paracheilinus lineopunctatus (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Harem
- Keep a single male with multiple females for natural behavior. Multiple males will fight unless the tank is massive. One male to three females is the ideal ratio.
- Feeding frequency
- 2-3 times daily
- They have a fast metabolism and need frequent feeding. Offer small meals two to three times per day. Consistent feeding maintains their vibrant colors and health.
- Bioload
- Low
- This species produces a low biological load. Their small size means they generate minimal waste. Standard protein skimming and regular water changes are adequate.
- Flow
- Strong
- They prefer moderate to strong water movement. Good flow keeps their zooplankton food suspended for foraging. Ensure there are lower flow areas for resting at night.
- Jump risk
- Yes
- They have a notorious reputation for jumping. A tight-fitting lid or mesh screen is absolutely mandatory. Even tiny gaps can provide enough space to escape.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are protogynous hermaphrodites, with females becoming males. The dominant fish typically becomes a brightly colored male. Captive breeding is rare but courtship is common.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Reef safe
- They are highly peaceful reef community fish. Avoid housing them with aggressive or large predatory species. They mix well with other peaceful wrasses in large tanks.
- Tank level
- All levels
- These wrasses swim in the middle to upper levels. They actively cruise open water looking for suspended food. At night, they seek shelter in bottom rock crevices.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.4 ± 0.45 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01072, b = 3.03
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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