Oxycheilinus digrammus

(Lacepede, 1801)

Cheeklined Wrasse

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Marshall Islands, and Samoa.

Size: 16 inches (40 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits protected lagoons and reefs rich in coral growth and usually found at depths between 10 – 200 feet (3 – 60 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, where adults are usually olive to grey brown with a orange bar on each scale, but can quickly change to reddish overall with pink or maroon lines on the face.

Best maintained in fish-only aquariums having a fine substrate (0.5 – 2 mm) of at least 4 inches (10 cm) in depth and containing large quantities of live rock/rubble, as those in this genus will rearrange the bottom substrate in its search for tasty bottom dwelling invertebrates, as it will eat snails, tubeworms, sea stars, cucumbers, urchins, crabs, shrimp, and also any fishes that will fit in its mouth!

As to diet, requires a meaty diet consisting of finely chopped clam, mussel, fish, and shrimp flesh, and/or other meaty type marine frozen foods and fed two to three times per day. Will also consume flake and pelletized foods.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Oxycheilinus

FYI: One per aquarium, and become quite aggressive.

Can jump out of uncovered aquariums.

Very Hardy.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Larger, active and moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5