As one of the more colorful reef safe fish, the Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse is a popular choice amongst reef keepers.
The Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri), also known as the Carpenter's Wrasse, or Redfin Flasher Wrasse, exhibits vastly different body patterns between its juvenile and adult stage. Juveniles feature an orange body with blue vertical stripes that become yellow with blue horizontal stripes as the wrasse matures. The dorsal fin features three elongated rays and is red in color accented with yellows and blues. It is very good jumper, so an aquarium with a closed lid is necessary to prevent it coming out of the tank accidentally.
The Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse requires a 55 gallon or larger aquarium with a tight-fitting lid since it is a jumper. It is one of he more peaceful Wrasses, and can do well with small groups of it’s own kind, if they are all introduced at the same time. It will thrive in a community reef aquarium, but is often harassed by other fish so the Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse should be the first species introduced into the aquarium. It should Not be kept with large wrasses or aggressive fish and is best to keep it with peaceful tank mates.
Diet: The Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food. Flasher wrasses have a high metabolism and should be fed several small meals a day rather than two large meals.