Flasher Wrasse

About

Found only around Fiji, this obscure flasher wrasse, Paracheilinus rubricaudalis, is one of the lesser-known members of a genus celebrated for its dazzling males and lively displays. In the wild it inhabits the rubble-strewn slopes of outer reefs, where small mixed-sex groups form with females typically outnumbering the single or few males present. A social structure common across flasher wrasses. Like its relatives, the male almost certainly performs rapid, fin-flaring courtship displays to compete for female attention, though detailed observations of this particular species remain sparse. At a modest adult size, it fits comfortably in a 30-gallon system, and flasher wrasses as a group tend to be peaceful, active fish that coexist well with most reef inhabitants. A tight-fitting lid is a must, since wrasses of this genus are notorious jumpers, especially when first introduced. Being a carnivore, it will appreciate small meaty foods like mysis and enriched brine shrimp offered regularly throughout the day. This is not a species you will commonly find at the local fish store, but for someone building a Fijian biotope or simply chasing something off the beaten path, it is a genuinely interesting little wrasse worth seeking out.