Paracheilinus carpenteri

Alternative names

 * Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse,

Sexing

 * Mature males have more elaborate fins and will become more brightly coloured during courtship.

Tank compatibility

 * These fish are best kept in a group, with more females than males, this will encourage males to display. This fish can easily be bullied, females should be introduced first and overall they should be the first species introduced to a tank to allow them to establish themselves. Should only be kept with equally peaceful tank mates. These fish are reef safe.

Diet

 * They should be fed small meaty foods such as mysis shrimp and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp. They should also accept high-quality marine pellet food.

Feeding regime

 * Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

 * This fish requires a mature laterally spacious tank, at least with a secure lid as this fish is a known jumper.

Behaviour

 * A peaceful mid-swimming reef fish that does well in groups provided there are more males than females.

Identification

 * A slender bodied fish with a pointed snout. As a juvenile it is orange with blue vertical stripes. As the fish matures and becomes an adult, the colouration becomes yellow with a series of broken blue horizontal stripes. The dorsal fin features three elongated rays and is red in colour accented with yellows and blues. The colours of the adult males intensify when in courtship, whereas the females colouration and overall appearance are more subdued.