Blue Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus Cyaneus) saltwater aquarium fish portrait

Paracheilinus cyaneus is a slender, fast-moving wrasse from the sheltered reefs of Indonesia in the western Pacific. Males carry a reddish to magenta ground color overlaid with blue body markings and trail elongated filaments from the dorsal fin and tail. During courtship a male floods his head, back, and dorsal fin with an intense turquoise-blue flush, the display behavior that gives flasher wrasses their name. Females and juveniles are considerably more subdued in color and lack the extended finnage. In the wild the species lives over mixed low coral and algae-rubble bottoms, usually in small mixed-sex groups in which females greatly outnumber males.

Plan on a well-established aquarium of 75 gallons or larger for adults, with generous open water through the middle and upper levels where this wrasse spends most of its day. Rockwork should include caves, cracks, and crevices, since this species does not bury in sand and instead wedges itself into rock to sleep or escape a perceived threat. A tightly fitting lid or closed canopy is not optional; startled or harassed individuals jump. Because the feeding schedule is heavy, strong mechanical and biological filtration paired with efficient protein skimming helps keep dissolved organics in check.

On the reef this is a zooplankton feeder, hovering above sheltered slopes and picking drifting prey out of the current. That habit carries into the aquarium, where small meaty items are the foundation of the diet. Mysis shrimp, finely chopped shrimp, clam, squid, and fish flesh are all readily taken, and quality prepared foods formulated for wrasses are usually accepted once the fish has settled.

Feed two or three small meals every day. Flasher wrasses rarely gather enough nutrition by picking at live rock, and individuals fed only once a day or less commonly thin out and lose color intensity. Frequent small portions also help a newly introduced fish regain condition after shipping, which is one reason this species is best considered a moderate-care animal rather than a beginner fish.

Mysis Shrimp Chopped Shrimp Clam Meat Chopped Squid Fish Flesh Prepared Wrasse Foods
Peaceful and constantly on the move, a Blue Flasher Wrasse patrols open water while staying within a short dash of rockwork. Social structure matters: wild aggregations contain both sexes with females far more numerous, and the most reliable aquarium arrangement is a single male with several females. Introduce the group at the same time, or add the females first and the male afterward, so no individual establishes an entrenched claim before the others arrive.

Suitable company includes peaceful community fishes and compatible wrasses. Avoid aggressive or predatory tankmates; dottybacks and several damselfishes in particular tend to harass flasher wrasses, keeping them hidden, off their food, or prone to jumping. In the reef aquarium this species is well behaved, taking its food from the water column rather than grazing corals or picking through live rock, and it poses little threat to ornamental invertebrates such as shrimp, crabs, snails, and clams.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Blue Flasher Wrasse

  • How large an aquarium does a Blue Flasher Wrasse need?
    House adults in a 75-gallon or larger system with substantial open swimming space in the middle and upper water column, plus rockwork offering caves and crevices for shelter.
  • How often should a Blue Flasher Wrasse be fed?
    Offer two or three small meals each day using zooplankton-sized or finely chopped meaty foods such as mysis, shrimp, clam, squid, and fish flesh. This species does not obtain enough nutrition by picking at live rock.
  • Is this wrasse safe in a mixed reef community?
    Yes. It is reef safe and poses little threat to corals or ornamental invertebrates, though it must be protected from aggressive or predatory tankmates and kept under a secure lid, since fright can trigger jumping.