{"product_id":"mccosker-s-flasher-wrasse","title":"McCosker's Flasher Wrasse | Paracheilinus mccoskeri","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMcCosker's Flasher Wrasse is a small, dazzling and peaceful wrasse famous for its courtship \"flashing,\" when the male erupts into intensified colour and flares his fins to display. Orange-red with blue and yellow striping and tall dorsal fins, it is reef safe, hardy and endlessly active — a brilliant, animated addition to a peaceful reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eParacheilinus mccoskeri comes from the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, where it lives in groups over rubble slopes and the edges of coral reefs, feeding on zooplankton in the water column. Males display most intensely around dusk to attract females. In the aquarium it wants open swimming space, live rock for shelter and the company of its own kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMales are vivid orange-red with electric blue and yellow lines and elongated dorsal rays, colours that blaze during display and soften at rest, while females are smaller and more subdued. A healthy fish is well filled through the body, alert and actively swimming and flashing rather than hiding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA peaceful, mild-mannered wrasse that will not bother corals or invertebrates. Males may display and mildly spar with other flasher wrasses, so keep one male with several females for the best colour, and mix with other calm reef fish such as clownfish, gobies, anthias and fairy wrasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA zooplankton feeder that thrives on small, frequent meals. Offer vitamin-enriched mysis and brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and quality frozen and pellet foods two to three times daily. Regular, varied feeding keeps its remarkable colours strong.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 200 L, with larger recommended for a harem; keep only one male unless the tank is very large. Maintain temperature at 24–26°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Moderate flow, secure rockwork and open water suit it. A tight-fitting lid is essential, as flasher wrasses jump readily. It is fully reef safe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlasher wrasses spawn at dusk, with the flashing male rising alongside a female to release eggs and sperm. While spawning is often seen in aquaria, the tiny pelagic larvae are very difficult to rear, so captive breeding is rare. The realistic goal is a lively, colourful harem in a stable system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParacheilinus mccoskeri\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMcCosker's Flasher Wrasse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndian Ocean and western Pacific; reef slopes and rubble\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 5–8 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEasy to intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 L or larger for a harem\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; zooplankton, mysis, brine and quality prepared foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful reef aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, gobies, dartfish, anthias, fairy wrasses, small tangs and most reef-safe community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large aggressive fish that will bully it, and avoid keeping multiple male flasher wrasses unless the aquarium is spacious and they are introduced together.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234143289635,"sku":null,"price":89.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234143322403,"sku":"AA3764","price":99.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/McCosker_s_Flasher_Wrasse_Paracheilinus_mccoskeri_6d18db8d-6b6b-462b-8a07-c301dbe88781.jpg?v=1781681627","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/mccosker-s-flasher-wrasse","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}