Common name: one-stripe fusilier

General information

The Checkerboard Wrasse, Pterocaesio tessellata, is a strikingly patterned fish known for its distinctive checkerboard-like coloration of blue and yellow hues. This species is part of the Caesionidae family, commonly referred to as fusiliers. They are active swimmers and can often be seen in schools in the wild, darting through the water column in search of planktonic food.

Care

Checkerboard Wrasses are considered moderately easy to care for in the home aquarium. They require a spacious tank with plenty of open swimming space as well as areas of live rock for refuge. A tightly fitting lid is recommended as they are known jumpers. These fish are not aggressive and can be kept with a variety of tank mates. They thrive on a diet that includes a variety of meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood.

Reproduction

In the wild, Checkerboard Wrasses are pelagic spawners, releasing their eggs and sperm into the water column where fertilization occurs. The eggs are then left to drift in the currents. Reproduction in the home aquarium is rare, but a well-maintained environment with stable conditions may encourage spawning behavior.

Habitat

Pterocaesio tessellata is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific. They inhabit coral reefs and are typically found at depths ranging from 2 to 50 meters. These wrasses prefer clear waters where they can easily spot and capture their planktonic prey.