Pseudojuloides cerasinus

(Snyder, 1904)

Smalltail Pencil Wrasse

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Hawaiian, Society, and Austral Islands, and south to Lord Howe Island.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral rich areas in lagoons and seaward reefs and usually found at depths between 6 – 65 feet (2 – 20 m) where it feeds on small benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with males having an overall greenish body with pink on the back and a dark lengthwise stripe, with females an overall reddish pink. Colors and their intensity vary depending upon the age of the specimen and where collected.

Can be maintained with peaceful tankmates in reef or fish-only aquariums having a fine sand bed, (0.5 – 2.0 mm) and at least 4 inches deep, along with several rocky crevices to hunt and also open swimming areas. Those in this genus will not only rearrange bottom dwelling corals/rubble in its search for tasty bottom dwelling invertebrates, it will also quickly burrow into the sand bed if frightened or for sleeping at night. This diving into the sand bed will cause clouds of sand particles to be dispensed into the water; therefore bottom dwelling corals are at risk

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be fed two to three times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Pseudojuloides

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

An adequate diet seems to be a problem with maintaining those in this genus.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5