Lined Tamarin Wrasse - Anampses lineatus

Lined Tamarin Wrasse (Anampses lineatus)

The Lined Tamarin Wrasse is a beautiful but specialist marine wrasse, admired for its elegant lined patterning, contrasting tail markings and noticeable change in appearance as it matures. Adults are typically orange-brown with pale facial spotting and horizontal body lines, while juveniles are much darker with irregular pale markings. Native to the Western Indian Ocean / Indo-West Pacific, it is best kept in a mature, peaceful marine aquarium with sand, rockwork and stable conditions, as this species can be delicate during acclimation and slow to settle onto prepared foods.

Common Name:
Lined Tamarin Wrasse. It is also commonly sold as Black Tail Wrasse or Lined Wrasse.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Anampses lineatus

Maximum Size:
Up to 12.5–13 cm (in captivity).

Water Type:
Marine.

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Found in the Western Indian Ocean / Indo-West Pacific, including records from the Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa, and east to Bali, Indonesia. Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs, usually at depths greater than 20 metres down to at least 42 metres.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 22–26°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG

Temperament:
Generally peaceful to timid, though it is best housed with other peaceful tankmates and may struggle in busy or competitive aquaria. In nature, adults form small groups with a dominant male and several females.

Diet:
Carnivorous. Offer a varied diet of small meaty marine foods such as mysis, enriched brineshrimp and other invertebrate-based foods. Newly imported specimens may need fortified live foods to encourage feeding during acclimation.

Minimum Tank Size:
450 litres minimum is a sensible long-term recommendation, based on guidance of 120 gallons or larger.

Behaviour & Activity:
An active but often cautious wrasse that appreciates open swimming space along with rockwork, caves and crevices. It is also a sand-burying species, and will dive into the substrate to sleep or when threatened.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe
Anampses care guidance notes that very small invertebrates can prove too tempting. In a reef aquarium, monitor carefully around tiny ornamental shrimps and other very small mobile invertebrates.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a well-established marine aquarium with plenty of rockwork and a thick sandy substrate for burying. A tight-fitting lid is important, as this species may jump. Because Anampses wrasses can be sensitive during transport and acclimation, quiet surroundings and careful settling-in are especially important.

Suitable for:
Experienced fishkeepers. TMC rates it as Expert care, and genus-level guidance notes that Anampses wrasses can be challenging to keep in good condition, especially during the settling-in period.

Availability:
Occasional in trade. Quality Marine describes it as uncommonly seen in the aquarium trade, although TMC does actively list it.

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.