Fourline Wrasse (Larabicus quadrilineatus)

Fourline Wrasse Larabicus quadrilineatus
Name	Fourline Wrasse
Name Lat.	Larabicus quadrilineatus
Synonym	Labrus quadrilineatus
Family	Wrasses
Family lat.	Labridae
Order	Wrasses & Relatives
Order lat.	Labriformes
Origin	Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
Habitat	Coral reefs, lagoons
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, pair, group
Reef Compatible	With caution
Care Level	Difficult
Life Span	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	12 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 350 l
US Units
Size	5"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 90 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of Larabicus quadrilineatus extends from the Red Sea through the Arabian Sea to the western Indian Ocean. They inhabit coral-rich lagoons, reef terraces and shallow outer reefs with coral cover down to 15 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!)

Only substrates rich in lime and free of heavy metals 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, juveniles feed mainly on parasites that they graze from other fish, adults prefer polyps of stony corals. The food change usually succeeds without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of mysis, krill, artemia, lobster eggs, shrimp, mussel and crab meat, or a commercially available frozen food mix enriched with vitamins. High-quality flake and granulated food is also often accepted after a period of acclimation

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

Behaviour and compatibility

The young fish, mostly females, are peaceful among themselves and can be kept without problems. With the sex change to male the aggression increases. Males should only be kept singly. However, it is better to keep them in pairs or in a harem, one male with several females. Towards other fish they usually behave peacefully, but they can be perceived as a nuisance due to their intense "preening".

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. most males develop from functional females as needed and are called "secondary males". These are, not like the black-blue striped juveniles, almost monochromatic dark blue in color.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium

Important

They are very skittish and like to jump, so the aquarium should be well covered

As reef dwellers, they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. With sufficient and varied feeding, which also reduces aggressiveness, they can be kept well with invertebrates, except hard corals.

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. Newly introduced fish 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; BAENSCH & DEBELIUS (2006): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch