Description

• Scientific Name: Paracheilinus carpenteri
• Common Names: Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse, Pink Flasher, Redfin Flasher Wrasse
• Maximum Length: 3 inches (8 cm)
• Minimum Aquarium Size: 55 gallons (284 liters) for a single fish; 100 gallons (379 liters) or larger for a harem to accommodate their active nature and social dynamics.
• Foods and Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on zooplankton and small invertebrates in the wild. In aquariums, offer frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, and enriched flake foods. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily to mimic natural foraging.
• Reef Safety: Reef-safe; they do not harm corals or invertebrates, making them excellent for reef tanks.
• Temperament: Peaceful overall, but males can be aggressive toward other males; best kept as a single male with multiple females in a harem setup.
• Description: Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse is a vibrant addition to marine tanks, known for its dazzling displays. Males are orange-red with blue stripes and elongated dorsal rays, while females are paler. Native to the Western Pacific, from the Philippines to Indonesia, they inhabit deep reefs at 27-45 meters. Their shy yet active nature suits mature tanks, where they bring color and movement with minimal care.

Fun Facts:

• Adapted to mesophotic reefs (27-45 meters deep), they have enhanced low-light vision, allowing them to detect zooplankton in dim twilight zones where colors appear muted to humans.
• Males can rapidly intensify their colors during “flashing” displays, a UV-reflective trait invisible to us but vivid to fish with ultraviolet vision for courtship signals.
• In harems, subordinate females suppress male traits through social cues; if the dominant male dies, the top female transitions quickly, growing elongated fins in days.