{"product_id":"tail-wrasse-male","title":"Tail Wrasse Male | Pseudojuloides splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Tail Wrasse Male, better known as the Splendid Pencil Wrasse, is a slender, brilliantly coloured wrasse in full terminal-male phase, marked with electric greens, blues and reds. Elegant and quick, it darts over the sand and rockwork in search of tiny prey. This is a beautiful but demanding fish, best reserved for experienced keepers with a mature reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePseudojuloides splendens ranges from Japan south to Australia and across the South Pacific, on coral and rubble reefs where it forages over the substrate for micro-crustaceans. Pencil wrasses are secretive fish that bury themselves in the sand at night and when alarmed. In the aquarium they require a mature system with a deep, fine sand bed to dive into, abundant live rock and a rich supply of small live foods. A settled, pod-rich reef is essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe terminal-phase male is stunning, with a slim, pencil-like body washed in green and blue and bordered by vivid red and yellow lines, colours that intensify during display. Females and juveniles are much plainer. Reaching around 12 cm, it is a small, delicate wrasse. Healthy specimens are alert and full-bodied, feeding steadily rather than showing the pinched belly that signals trouble.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a peaceful, rather shy wrasse that will not trouble tank mates and can itself be outcompeted by bolder fish. It is best kept in a calm reef with gentle to moderately active companions such as small gobies, anthias, other peaceful wrasses and clownfish. Sudden movements can send it diving into the sand, so a settled, low-stress environment is important. A single specimen suits most systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the main difficulty with this species, which is rated expert-only. It naturally hunts tiny crustaceans and can be reluctant to accept prepared foods, so a mature reef with a strong pod population is a great asset. Offer frequent small meals of enriched frozen mysis, copepods and finely chopped meaty foods, and be prepared to supplement with live foods until it is feeding confidently. Patience during acclimation is key.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 200 L, with 300 L or more recommended, as an established reef with a fine sand bed. Maintain 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. A deep, soft sand layer is essential so the fish can bury itself, and a tight-fitting lid is a must, as pencil wrasses are prone to jumping. Stable, mature water conditions greatly improve the odds of long-term success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike other wrasses, the Splendid Pencil Wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite and a pelagic spawner, with females able to transform into terminal males. It is not bred in home aquariums, as the tiny planktonic larvae require specialised rearing. For keepers, the reward lies in the fish's exceptional colour and the challenge of settling it successfully rather than in breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePseudojuloides splendens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSplendid Pencil Wrasse (Tail Wrasse)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWestern and South Pacific coral and rubble reefs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and shy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert (specialist feeder)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 L or larger (mature reef)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; micro-crustaceans and pods, some accept enriched frozen\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature, peaceful reef aquariums with a fine sand bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe (may eat very small ornamental crustaceans)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include small peaceful gobies, anthias, other calm wrasses, clownfish and cardinalfish in a settled reef aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or very boisterous fish, fast greedy feeders that deplete pods, and any system lacking a soft sand bed for the fish to bury itself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234138505507,"sku":null,"price":52.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234138538275,"sku":null,"price":62.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234138571043,"sku":"BA9091","price":72.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Small-tail_Wrasse_Male_Pseudojuloides_splendens_f39b8596-e934-4af1-984a-1968714d582a.jpg?v=1781681632","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/tail-wrasse-male","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}