All fish / Labridae

White-barred Pygmy Wrasse

Pseudocheilinus ocellatus

Also known as mystery wrasse, ocellated wrasse, whitebarred pygmy wrasse, mystery pygmy wrasse, white-barred wrasse, ocellatus wrasse, mystery lined wrasse, ヒメニセモチノウオ, 眼斑拟唇鱼, 神秘龙

A small, very colourful wrasse with a purple to magenta body, a yellow or orange head marked with blue lines, a black eyespot on the dorsal fin and fine white bars on the flanks. It is sought after by reef keepers for its striking colours and its habit of picking pests such as flatworms and small bristleworms off live rock. It is usually found in deeper water, so specimens are uncommon and fairly costly.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Keep singly; one per tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, copepods and quality marine pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western and central Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Philippines, Marshall Islands to Tonga and Samoa

Breeding

Like other wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite and scatters pelagic eggs during paired spawning. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

Often territorial and may bully other small wrasses, dottybacks or timid fish, so add it last to an established reef with plenty of rockwork; it is reef safe with corals but may pick at tiny shrimps. Fit a tight lid, as wrasses jump.