Secretive Wrasse

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Minimum Tank Size: 24 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-79° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, Indonesia
• Family: Labridae   • Species: Wrasse   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

Help Support AquariumDomain!      

• Your support keeps AquariumDomain advertisement free, lightning fast and fully optimized for both mobile and desktop browsing.

• Visit our Patreon page to learn about the exclusive benefits our Patrons receive!

Secretive Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) are becoming more common within the aquarium trade due to their brilliant scarlet red coloration and ability to thrive in the aquarium environment. Like many Wrasse species, the Secretive Wrasse is sold under a variety of common names including Secretive Wrasse, Scarlet Pin Stripe Wrasse, Striated Wrasse and Evanidus Wrasse.

Their natural Indo-Pacific habitat ranges from Indonesia to Hawaii, where they are found mostly in and around coral reefs. Secretive Wrasse are incredibly adept at maneuvering in and out of even the smallest caves and crevices in the rock work, where they hunt for a wide variety of small organisms ranging from copepods to small worms.

In fact many hobbyists keep Secretive Wrasse just for their ability to rid the aquarium of a variety of common pests that can take over a reef aquarium if not kept in check. Secretive Wrasse are a good fit for a variety of aquarium setups ranging from FOWLR to reef tanks. They are also a very hardy species that will readily adapt to aquarium life and typical aquarium foods.

The Secretive Wrasse is well suited for any community FOWLR or reef aquarium setup containing other peaceful to semi-aggressive reef fish species. They are also peaceful towards most all ornamental invertebrates including shrimp, snails and crabs. However, they will prey on many of the nuisance snails and smaller bristle worms.

Overall the Secretive Wrasse is very comparable to the Six & Eight Line Wrasse in terms of aquarium personality and ability to rid the aquarium of common pest species. It is their propensity for eating bristle worms that has made them a sought after species for may aquarists who are trying to keep bristle worm populations in check.

While generally a peaceful species, Secretive Wrasse will show aggression towards others of their own kind (unless a mated pair) and other similarly sized and shaped fish species. They are much more likely to show aggression towards others if the aquarium does not have enough live rock to provide them a suitable territory and hunting ground.

It is best to keep this species with plenty of live rock and horizontal swimming room, so that they can patrol a suitable territory. Larger aquariums (125 gallons or more) with plenty of live rock will generally be able to support multiple smaller Wrasse species without issue.

Secretive Wrasse also benefits from the presence of a refugium, as a strong population of copepods, amphipods and other micro faunae will provide them an excellent food source and curb aggression. Like most Wrasse, the Secretive Wrasse is quite capable of defending itself against larger more boisterous species as its speed and maneuverability make it a difficult species to pick on or bully.

Secretive Wrasse are very active feeders that will generally spend the majority of the day cruising up and down the reef looking for food items on which to feed. In an aquarium with a sufficient population of micro faunae, the Secretive Wrasse will need only supplemental feedings of various meaty foods.

Their overall diet should consist of a variety of meaty items including: vitamin enriched meaty frozen preparations, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp or flake or pellet foods formulated for carnivores. Hobbyists will find that the Secretive Wrasse will readily consume the same foodstuffs that most all Indo-Pacific reef fish species will accept.