Candy Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides Cerasinus) saltwater aquarium fish portrait

Pseudojuloides cerasinus is a slender, fast-moving wrasse endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. A taxonomic revision in 2017 restricted the name to Hawaiian populations, separating fish once lumped under this species across the Indo-Pacific into relatives such as Pseudojuloides splendens. The sexes look strikingly different: females carry reddish orange, pink, or salmon coloration, while terminal-phase males turn greenish across the back and bluish below, marked with a blue lateral stripe set directly above a yellow stripe and usually a darkened rear portion of the tail. Chisel-like side teeth distinguish members of this genus from other small wrasses.

An adult belongs in a mature aquarium of at least 75 gallons, with open water for continuous cruising balanced against rockwork that offers caves and crevices. A deep bed of fine sand is not optional; this wrasse buries itself at night and dives into the substrate when startled, so coarse or shallow substrate leaves it without refuge. Fit the tank with a tight-sealing lid, since escape through small gaps is a genuine risk with pencil wrasses. Established systems with dense populations of copepods and amphipods suit the species best, as they allow the fish to graze between feedings. Keep in mind that habitual sand-diving can scatter substrate across corals placed on the bottom.

This is a carnivore that feeds on small benthic invertebrates in the wild, with planktonic prey also reported as part of its intake. In the aquarium, offer small marine animal foods: mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, krill, Cyclops, and other finely chopped frozen or fresh meaty items. Live rock and a productive sand bed supplement these meals with the tiny crustaceans the fish hunts naturally.

Feed several small portions each day rather than one large meal, as the metabolism of this active wrasse does not tolerate long gaps. Newly imported specimens sometimes ignore prepared foods; fortified live mysis or live brine shrimp usually triggers a feeding response and can be used to bridge the transition to frozen fare. Poor nutrition is the most frequently cited reason these wrasses fail in captivity, so confirm that a specimen is eating well before committing to it.

Mysis Shrimp Enriched Brine Shrimp Krill Cyclops Chopped Frozen Meaty Foods Live Mysis Shrimp Copepods And Amphipods
Expect an energetic swimmer that patrols the open water throughout the day and retires into the sand at nightfall. Despite the constant motion, the species has a timid streak and may stay buried or behave nervously when housed with pushy, boisterous fish. Calm community tankmates that do not monopolize food allow the wrasse to settle and display its colors. Individuals can be maintained as a male-female pair, and females are capable of changing sex to male; distinct pairing has been reported during spawning. Combinations involving conspecifics or closely related pencil wrasses call for caution, as squabbling between similar species is possible.

Approach invertebrate compatibility with care. Direct feeding on corals is not consistently reported, and this wrasse is generally considered safe around them, but mobile and hard-shelled invertebrates may be targeted, and warnings exist about predation on shelled animals. Its sand-diving habit is a second consideration in a mixed reef, since displaced substrate can settle onto low-mounted corals and clams. Placing corals off the sand bed and monitoring smaller ornamental invertebrates after introduction are sensible precautions.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Candy Pencil Wrasse

  • Is the true Candy Pencil Wrasse found throughout the Indo-Pacific?
    No. A 2017 revision restricted Pseudojuloides cerasinus to the Hawaiian Islands, and formerly included populations were separated into other species such as Pseudojuloides splendens.
  • What aquarium features does this wrasse require?
    It needs a mature 75-gallon or larger system with open swimming space, rockwork with crevices, a deep bed of fine sand for nightly and defensive burial, and a tightly fitted lid to prevent jumping.
  • How should a newly introduced specimen be fed?
    Offer fortified live mysis or live brine shrimp to stimulate feeding, then transition to frozen mysis, krill, and Cyclops. Provide several small meals daily, since insufficient nutrition is the main husbandry risk.