Eightline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia)

Eightline Wrasse Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
Name	Eightline Wrasse
Name Lat.	Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
Family	Wrasses
Family lat.	Labridae
Order	Wrasses & Relatives
Order lat.	Labriformes
Origin	Indo-Pacific
Habitat	Lagoons, seaward reefs
Diet	Planktivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Aggressive
Keeping	Individual
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Difficult
Life Span	2-3 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	14 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 350 l
US Units
Size	5"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 90 gal

Distribution and habitat

Pseudocheilinus octotaenia have a wide range, extending throughout the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of America, and from Hawaii to Australia. They live solitary mostly in caves and crevices on outer reefs with dense coral growth and in lagoons up to 40 m depth.

Maintenance

They need a well-structured aquarium with plenty of swimming space and a reef structure (hiding, resting and retreat possibilities) with living stones that act like a biological filter as well as free sand areas (no coral rubble!) for burrowing

Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates may be used as substrate. Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

In nature they feed mainly on zooplankton. The feed change usually succeeds without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of small mysis, artemia and cyclops. In addition, chopped shrimp and crab meat as well as a frozen food mixture enriched with vitamins for plankton eaters. High-quality flake and granulated food is also often accepted after an acclimation period

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day. This also reduces intra-species aggression and protects lower animals in the aquarium. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They behave very aggressive within the species and also against other fish. Keeping several animals is only possible in a much larger and richly structured tank. They should only be kept together with other large and robust fish that can defend themselves well.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that most males develop from functional females and are called "secondary males". "Primary males" are born as males. External sexual characteristics are not known.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

They also eat parasitic micro snails (Pyramidellidae), planarians and bristle worms and prevent their uncontrolled reproduction

Overnight and when threatened, they bury themselves in the sandy substrate

As coral reef dwellers, they should not be maintained in a fish-only aquarium.

If different species are kept together, care should be taken to match the fish in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and to ensure that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF