Smalltail Pencil Wrasse

The Smalltail Pencil Wrasse males have a jade coloured back with a bright blue band running down its side and a white belly. Females are orange with a pale yellow throat and nose.

For best care, the Smalltail Pencil Wrasse should be housed in an established, well-filtered aquarium. It is a jumper, so a secure lid on the aquarium is required.

The Smalltail Pencil Wrasse may be very difficult to keep in an aquarium due to its feeding habits. When first introduced into the aquarium, live feeder brineshrimp or mysis shrimp should be used to entice this fish to eat. It eats very small invertebrates (amphiopods) that grow on live rock. The diet should also include live, small feeder shrimps (brine, mysid) and finely chopped marine meats.