All fish / Labridae

Striated Wrasse

Pseudocheilinus evanidus

Also known as striated wrasse, disappearing wrasse, scarlet pin-striped wrasse, evanescent wrasse, pinstripe wrasse, red striated wrasse, yes wrasse, ヒメニセモチノウオ, 姬拟唇鱼, 条纹拟唇鱼

A small, shy reddish wrasse with many fine white horizontal lines along its body and a white streak under the eye. It spends most of its time slipping through the rockwork and lives deeper than its relatives, so it often stays timid. Reef keepers buy it because it is reef safe with corals and picks off small pests such as flatworms and bristleworms.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, one per tank

Diet

Carnivore: small crustaceans, mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods and small frozen meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, north to southern Japan, south to Australia

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning females can turn into males, and it spawns in pairs, releasing eggs that float in open water. Breeding in home aquariums is rarely reported and raising the larvae is very difficult.

Good to know

It can be territorial towards other small wrasses and dottybacks, so add it before similar fish and avoid keeping more than one. A tight lid is needed because it can jump, and it may eat very small ornamental shrimps.