Smalltail Pencil Wrasse

Smalltail Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides cerasinus) is a delicate, reef-safe pencil wrasse known for its slender body, dynamic color phases, and subtle personality. In early phases, it shows pink or red hues, transitioning as males into green bodies with bold blue and yellow horizontal stripes and a distinct black margin on the caudal fin. Males may also display elongated fin elements and more vivid coloration. It reaches about 5 inches adult size. Best housed in aquariums of 75 gallons or more, with deep fine sanded substrate for resting, plenty of live rock and rubble for hiding and foraging, stable reef water parameters (salinity ~1.020-1.025; temperature ~74-82°F; pH ~8.1-8.4), and a secure lid since wrasses are jumpers. Diet should include small meaty fare like mysis, brine shrimp, small crustaceans, and finely chopped seafood offered multiple times per day during acclimation, gradually shifting to prepared foods when possible.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3–10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.