Princess Parrotfish (Paracheilinus Filamentos) saltwater aquarium fish portrait

Despite the common name it carries in the trade, Paracheilinus filamentosus is a flasher wrasse rather than a parrotfish, and it is also known as the Filamentous Flasher Wrasse. Males are reddish-orange to purplish, marked with narrow lateral stripes that shift from red to blue, and they carry a lunate tail along with several greatly elongated soft dorsal-fin rays. Breeding males intensify further, developing neon-blue markings and a bright yellow first dorsal fin. Females are considerably less ornate, typically reddish-orange with darker stripes. The species ranges through the Indo-Pacific, where it associates with rubble zones in reef passages, lagoons, and outer reef slopes, and it reaches roughly 6 inches.

Adults should be housed in an aquarium of at least 50 gallons, arranged to reproduce the structure-and-open-water mix of its natural rubble habitat. Build the rockwork with plenty of crevices and caves, since this wrasse wedges itself into the reef at night instead of burrowing into the substrate, and leave generous open water for the constant cruising this fish does through the middle of the tank. A sandy bottom is also suggested for this species. A tightly secured lid is essential equipment rather than an option, because a startled flasher wrasse will readily jump from an open system. Care is moderate, driven largely by the need for frequent feeding and careful handling during the first days in a new tank.

In the wild this carnivore picks zooplankton from the water column and takes other benthic invertebrates from the rubble. Captive diets should mirror that with varied, finely sized meaty items: mysis shrimp, chopped shrimp, clam, squid, fish flesh, krill, Artemia, Cyclops, and live copepods. Small particle size matters, as the fish is built to snap up individual planktonic prey rather than tear at large pieces.

Feed two to three times daily. Multiple daily feedings are particularly important for a newly introduced fish, which has little reserve to spare after shipping. Transport and acclimation can be a sensitive period, and a fresh specimen may need a day or two before it begins eating, so watch closely to confirm active feeding and inspect the mouth for any transport damage before assuming the fish has settled.

Mysis Shrimp Chopped Shrimp Clam Squid Krill Artemia Cyclops Live Copepods
This is a peaceful, restlessly active wrasse that spends its day working the open water above the rockwork. Wild populations form mixed-sex groups in which females greatly outnumber males, and that structure translates well to the aquarium: a pair, or a single male with several females, is the preferred arrangement. Displaying males flare their fins, intensify their coloration, and dash past females and rivals, which is one of the main attractions of keeping the species. Limit the group to one male in smaller systems, since males will challenge similar same-sex wrasses, and multiple males require substantially more room.

Choose tankmates with equally mild dispositions. Aggressive dottybacks, pugnacious damsels, and similar bullies will harass this wrasse and can keep it from feeding, which is the fastest route to trouble with a fish that needs several meals a day. It is reef safe: no damage to corals or sessile invertebrates is reported, and it presents no identified predation risk to ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, clams, or small fishes, making it a straightforward addition to a mixed reef.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Princess Parrotfish

  • Is Princess Parrotfish the correct name for this species?
    No. Paracheilinus filamentosus is a flasher wrasse, commonly called the Filamentous Flasher Wrasse, and it is not a parrotfish.
  • How large an aquarium does an adult need, and does it require a lid?
    Plan on at least 50 gallons with abundant rock crevices and open swimming room. A tightly secured lid is necessary because a frightened individual can jump from an uncovered tank.
  • Can this wrasse be kept in a reef aquarium with invertebrates?
    Yes. It is considered reef safe, with no reported damage to corals or sessile invertebrates and no identified threat to ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, or clams.