Decolores Wrasse (Pseudojuloides Severnsi) saltwater aquarium fish portrait

Pseudojuloides severnsi is a slender, fast-moving wrasse from the tropical Indo-West Pacific, where it lives on deeper reef zones made up largely of open rubble broken by scattered rock and coral patches. Females and initial-phase individuals are pinkish to orange-red with pale undersides. Terminal-phase males transform dramatically, taking on a yellow body marked by a large blue-margined black patch across the rear of the head and forward dorsal body, irregular blue lines and flecks, an orange stripe running along the dorsal fin, and dark projecting upper and lower lobes on the tail. Adults reach roughly 6 inches.

Adult housing should begin at a 75-gallon aquarium, though some keepers favor considerably larger systems in the range of 130 gallons for a more stable prey base. Maturity matters more than volume alone: abundant established live rock, open lanes for swimming, rocky caves and crevices for retreat, and a fine sand bed of about 2 to 4 inches for nightly or defensive burial are all important. Include relatively calm areas where the fish can hunt small prey without fighting heavy flow. A tight, gap-free lid is mandatory, as this is an accomplished jumper that will find any opening.

In the wild this carnivore patrols the substrate, picking through rubble and sand for small benthic animals such as molluscs and foraminiferans. That grazing habit carries over to captivity, so a mature aquarium with ongoing micro-invertebrate life among the rock and sand is the foundation of successful care. A fishless refugium is a useful addition for continually seeding tiny live foods into the display.

Prepared offerings should center on small, enriched meaty items: live or frozen brine shrimp, mysis, zooplankton, copepods, and finely chopped shrimp, clam, squid, and fish flesh. Feed small portions at least two or three times daily, and more often if the fish will take it. Newly imported individuals frequently ignore prepared food at first and are vulnerable to starvation, so select only specimens that are not emaciated and are visibly searching the substrate for food.

Enriched Brine Shrimp Frozen Mysis Shrimp Zooplankton Copepods Chopped Shrimp Clam Meat Chopped Squid Fish Flesh
This is an active, restless forager that spends much of the day working the sand and rubble for prey. In nature it forms small harems consisting of one terminal-phase male with several females. Keep only one male per aquarium; a simultaneously introduced male and female pairing has a reasonable chance only in a very large system with a genuinely productive prey base. Freshly introduced fish often stay buried in the sand for several days while they settle in, which is normal and not cause for alarm.

Choose calm, undemanding tankmates so this wrasse is not intimidated away from feeding, and avoid other Pseudojuloides, competing wrasses, pugnacious dottybacks, hawkfishes, and any boisterous species that will outcompete it at mealtimes. Corals and other sessile invertebrates are generally left undisturbed, so it works in a reef display, but caution is warranted with mobile invertebrates. Small ornamental shrimp, fireworms, and hard-shelled invertebrates can be taken, and foraging activity may shift loose rubble or unsecured bottom-dwelling corals.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Decolores Wrasse

  • Is the Decolores Wrasse a good choice for a new saltwater aquarist?
    No. It can be slow to acclimate and difficult to convert to prepared food, and it depends heavily on natural microfauna, making it a fish for keepers with an established, well-populated aquarium.
  • What aquarium setup does this wrasse need?
    Plan on a mature aquarium of at least 75 gallons with established live rock, open swimming space, hiding crevices, relatively calm feeding zones, and a fine sand bed of roughly 2 to 4 inches for burial. A tightly sealed lid is essential because it jumps.
  • Can it be kept in a reef aquarium?
    Yes, with attention to invertebrates. Corals and other sessile invertebrates are typically ignored, but small ornamental shrimp, fireworms, and hard-shelled invertebrates may be eaten, and loose rubble or unattached bottom corals can be nudged during foraging.