Oxycheilinus digramma

Datasheet

General Description:The Cheeklined wrasse, also known as the Violetline Maori wrasse, belongs to the Labridae family, specifically Oxycheilinus digramma. These fish are native to the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Samoa. Wrasses are popular in reef aquariums for their attractive appearance and their ability to control unwanted invertebrates like flatworms and pyramide snails. They have a varied diet, consuming everything from zooplankton to large crustaceans and sea urchins.

Aquarium Suitability:Considered suitable with care, these wrasses can be challenging to maintain due to their specific requirements. When fully grown, they demand a very large tank, ideally around 1500 liters. They thrive in environments with good hiding places, such as rocks and crevices, where they can feel secure. It's advised not to disturb them during the acclimation process, as they may hide initially. Providing a living feed can increase their chances of acclimating successfully.

Care and Hardiness:The Cheeklined wrasse is of average hardiness and can exhibit a fun and interesting personality. They have a habit of rearranging rocks and sand in the aquarium, so ensuring secure placement is important. These fish require a varied diet that includes fish, larger crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Due to their active nature, they need ample space for swimming and tend to thrive best when kept without other members of the same species.

Reef Suitability:Reef safe with caution, Cheeklined wrasses can be aggressive towards smaller fish and invertebrates commonly found in reef environments. Their feeding habits may pose a threat to shrimps, crayfish, crabs, small bivalves, sea urchins, snails, and similar creatures. Therefore, careful consideration is needed when housing them in a reef tank.

Aquarium Setup:Setting up an aquarium for Cheeklined wrasses involves providing plenty of hiding spots among live rocks and ensuring a secure environment to prevent rock rearrangement. The water conditions should be maintained within specific parameters, including a temperature range of 22.2-25.6°C, pH of 8.1-8.4, KH of 8-12, and salinity between 1.020-1.025.

Behaviour:These wrasses may display aggressive tendencies towards other species, particularly smaller fish, and invertebrates. They are known to have a lively personality and enjoy swimming in open spaces within the tank.

Feeding and Diet:Cheeklined wrasses should be fed a varied diet that includes fish, larger crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs, and small crustaceans like krill, mysis, and artemia. Offering a diverse range of foods enhances their overall health and vitality.

Dimorphism:While information on dimorphism is not provided, captive reproduction of Cheeklined wrasses may be possible under appropriate conditions. Monitoring their behavior and providing a suitable environment conducive to breeding may lead to successful reproduction.

Habitat and Distribution:In their natural habitat, Cheeklined wrasses are found in the East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, the Red Sea, Indonesia, and various regions across the Pacific Ocean. They inhabit reef areas where they can search for food and find shelter among rocks and crevices.