Candy Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides Cerasinus) saltwater aquarium fish

Overview:

The Candy Pencil Wrasse is a small, active marine wrasse that does best in a mature, stable reef aquarium with plenty of open swimming space and fine sand. This species is best kept in a well-covered tank of at least 55 gallons, with high oxygenation, strong but not blasting flow, and lots of live rock for foraging and shelter. A sand bed is important because many wrasses use the substrate to sleep in or retreat to when startled. Keep water quality excellent and consistent: stable salinity, low nitrate, and no detectable ammonia or nitrite. Because this wrasse is energetic and curious, abrupt changes, poor water conditions, or insufficient space can quickly lead to stress.

Diet and Feeding:

Candy Pencil Wrasses are carnivorous micro-predators that need frequent, varied meals. In captivity, they should be fed small portions 2–4 times daily, especially when newly introduced. Offer a mix of high-quality frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, chopped krill, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and finely chopped seafood. They may also accept small sinking marine pellets or prepared carnivore formulas, but live or frozen foods often help establish feeding. Because they naturally pick at tiny crustaceans and worms, they benefit from regular access to natural grazing opportunities in a reef-like setup. Avoid overfeeding; this species does best with several small meals rather than one large feeding. Any uneaten food should be removed promptly to preserve water quality.

Compatibility:

This wrasse is generally peaceful to semi-active and usually compatible with other calm to moderately active reef fish. Good tankmates include gobies, blennies, firefish, smaller tangs, clownfish, and many reef-safe wrasses that are not overly aggressive. Avoid housing it with large, dominant, or highly territorial species that may outcompete it for food or intimidate it into hiding. Extremely boisterous feeders can also stress this wrasse unless it is clearly established and well-fed. In a reef tank, it is usually safe with corals and many invertebrates, but it may opportunistically prey on very small ornamental shrimp, tiny worms, or fragile microfauna. It is best not to mix with aggressive predators or with similar-shaped wrasses unless the aquarium is large and carefully managed.

Health and Quarantine:

Candy Pencil Wrasses should always be quarantined before entering the display tank. Quarantine allows you to observe feeding response, detect parasites, and acclimate the fish to prepared foods. Like many wrasses, they can be sensitive to transport stress and may be prone to marine ich, flukes, and starvation if they fail to feed early on. Watch for rapid breathing, clamped fins, flashing, or weight loss. Provide a quiet quarantine tank with sand, hiding places, and stable water conditions. Because they are sensitive to medication, treatments should be used cautiously and only when necessary. Strong nutrition, low stress, and stable salinity are the best long-term preventive care.

mysis shrimp brine shrimp high-quality marine flakes/pellets
Candy Pencil Wrasse are active, darting midwater swimmers that spend much of their time weaving through rockwork and picking at the substrate, so they do best in a spacious aquarium with ample swimming room and plenty of hiding spots. They are generally peaceful and non-territorial toward most tank mates, though males may show mild assertiveness toward conspecifics, especially in tighter quarters or when competing for space. A minimum tank size of 75 gallons is recommended, with an aquascape built from open channels, caves, and visual barriers to reduce line-of-sight and help curb stress and minor chasing. In reef setups they are typically compatible with reef-safe species and other calm community fish, but overly aggressive or boisterous tank mates should be avoided. Their diet is carnivorous to microcarnivorous, with a natural focus on small crustaceans, worms, and other tiny invertebrates gleaned from the sand and rock surfaces. In captivity they should be offered a varied diet of finely chopped meaty foods, enriched frozen preparations, and quality pellets or frozen fare designed for small predatory wrasses.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Candy Pencil Wrasse

  • How can I tell if my Candy Pencil Wrasse is actually eating and not just picking at the rockwork?
    A healthy Candy Pencil Wrasse should spend much of the day actively cruising the tank and taking small, repeated bites of frozen foods, enriched brine, mysis, chopped seafood, and tiny meaty pellets. They often look like they are “picking” constantly, but the key sign is a rounded, steadily filled belly and regular willingness to feed at the water column and substrate. Newly imported individuals may only recognize live or moving foods at first, so target-feeding small portions several times a day is often necessary.
  • Does a Candy Pencil Wrasse need a sand bed, and what happens at night?
    Yes, it is strongly recommended. Candy Pencil Wrasses are sand sleepers and typically dive into fine sand at night or when startled. A soft sand bed of at least a couple inches is ideal so they can bury comfortably. Without suitable sand, they become stressed, may refuse food, and are much more vulnerable to injury and jumping.
  • Can I keep a Candy Pencil Wrasse with other wrasses or only with peaceful tankmates?
    They can be kept with many peaceful to moderately assertive tankmates, but they do best when housed with fish that won’t bully them or outcompete them at feeding time. Avoid aggressive wrasses, large territorial fish, and very fast feeders that will dominate every meal. If you keep multiple wrasses, introduce them carefully and make sure the tank is large enough with plenty of visual breaks, because Candy Pencil Wrasses are not built to compete with highly aggressive species.
  • Why does my Candy Pencil Wrasse keep disappearing for long periods during the day?
    This species is naturally shy and secretive, especially when newly introduced or if it feels insecure. It may spend long stretches hovering near cover, darting into rockwork, or retreating to the sand if stressed. Frequent disappearing can also happen if the fish is being harassed, not getting enough food, or lacks a secure environment with fine sand and ample hiding spots. Once settled, it should become much more visible and confident.
  • What is the hardest part of acclimating a Candy Pencil Wrasse from the wild?
    Feeding transition is usually the biggest challenge. Many specimens arrive thin and stressed, and some initially refuse dead foods. A calm quarantine setup with fine sand, dim lighting, low competition, and frequent small feedings is critical. Live blackworms, live brine, and tiny enriched frozen foods often help start feeding. Because they are delicate shippers, rapid acclimation, strong oxygenation, and careful observation during the first week make a huge difference in long-term survival.