Wrasses

Carpenter's flasher wrasse

Paracheilinus carpenteri

Care level: Intermediate
Adult size: 7.6 cm in aquariums
Minimum tank: 227 litres
Temperament: Peaceful
With corals: Reef safe
Captive-bred: Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
IUCN status: Data Deficient

Show volumes inLitresUK gallonsUS gallons

How do you care for the carpenter's flasher wrasse?

Peaceful; often picked on.

Feeding

Carnivore.

Frequent small meals.

Tank and special needs

Plan for at least 227 litres of water (the care sheet says 60 US gallons).

Tight lid; jumper.

Corals and invertebrates

None.

Which tankmates suit the carpenter's flasher wrasse?

Add first, with peaceful fish only; one male with several females.

Suggested order in a mixed tank: add early, with the first peaceful fish.

More than one carpenter's flasher wrasse

One male with several females, added together. Two males fight.

Other fish

Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

Take care (4)

Maroon clownfishMaroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the carpenter's flasher wrasse, especially if the bully is added first.
Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the carpenter's flasher wrasse, especially if the bully is added first.
Six line wrasseSix line wrasses often bully peaceful wrasses, firefish and dartfish, especially in small tanks.
Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the carpenter's flasher wrasse, especially if the bully is added first.

Usually fine together (55)

Invertebrates

Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

Take care (2)

Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

Corals and anemones

Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

Take care (1)

Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)The carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) can catch and eat small fish such as the carpenter's flasher wrasse.

These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

Quarantine and health

Standard; sensitive.

New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

Captive-bred or wild?

Wild-caught.

Where sources disagree

Where sources disagree
Topic	What sources say	Our reading
Minimum tank	60 US gallons in the retailer quick stats. 55 US gallons in the overview of the same page.	Both mean a medium tank with a lid.

Other minimum tank sizes we found:

The same page's overview says 55 gal.

Sources

LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats.
FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.

Last checked 21 October 2026. How we check

Found a mistake? Tell us how to fix it.

How do you care for the carpenter's flasher wrasse?

Feeding

Tank and special needs

Corals and invertebrates

Which tankmates suit the carpenter's flasher wrasse?

More than one carpenter's flasher wrasse

Other fish

! Take care (4)

Invertebrates

! Take care (2)

Corals and anemones

! Take care (1)

Quarantine and health

Captive-bred or wild?

Where sources disagree

Sources

Related fish

Yellow coris wrasse

Six line wrasse

Red head solon fairy wrasse

Melanurus wrasse

Take care (4)

Take care (2)

Take care (1)