Anyone experience with the pink streak wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)

[currymuetze]

Hi,
I kinda fell in love with this fish and thinking about buying them.
Unfortunately there are not many informations available.

First question is: Should a pair be enough or would you rather recommend a harem?

Second question: I think it is hard to tell which is male or female. However, at least my retailer cannot order male or female. So in worst case, I will receive two male? Will this be a problem? What it it is two female? Will one become male later on?

Whats your experience with these fishes towards other fishes? (Zebrasoma, A.Ocellaris, Centropyge acanthops)? and expecially maybe other wrasses?

Hope anyone has some experience he would share.

Thx
Thorsten

 

[eatbreakfast]

They are an incredibly shy and docile fish, think liopropoma but without the big mouth. Another common name is cryptic wrasse because they hang out and hide in the rock work. They will not bother any other fish whatsoever, but may be intimidated by larger more active fish. Even with males there is very little aggresion in any tank larger than a 20L.

Sexing them is pretty easy. Males stripes are much more defined and their eyes are more colorful. If you can get enough specimens for a harem I would recomend it, its very cool to see there social behavior.

Of the fish you mentioned above, the dwarf angel would have me the most concerned, they can be territorial of the rock work which is where P aetania wants to be. Iwould also not mix him with Psuedocheileinus wrasses or larger Halichoeres wrasse, or any wrasse species more aggressive than these. Flasher and fairy wrasses should be just fine, though.

 

[Sigmund]

Have had mine for 3+ years. Started him in a nano and moved him to my 150gallon reef about 2years ago. Personality is very similar to my Possum Wrasse, as is their size look except for color. Probably explains why my pink streaked wrasse and Possum wrasse are such good buddies. I have mine in with the following:
Angels (Golden, Multibar, Venustus)
Couple different blennies (Emerald, Pike)
Couple of Gobies (Circus, Orange-Marked,)
Couple of Basslets (Swalesi, Gold Assessor)
Couple of Wrasses (Possum, Blue Flasher)
Jawfish
Pair of occelaris clowns

My PSW has had no problems with anything in my tank. Mostly see him out and about at dusk, he likes to dance around in the ambient sunlight (with my possum wrasse) that hits the corner of my tank as it is setting.

More cryptic than a six-line, but for those people that like the look of six line wrasses this is a peacful alternative in my opinion.

 

[JaneG]

Be careful keeping a pair of them together. Mine have been fine and spawning for the past 6 months but recently the male has been very aggressive towards the "female." They have stopped spawning and I assume she's changing into a male too unfortunately. I heard of this from someone else with a trio where one turned male - male pink streaked wrasse will NOT get along (in a small tank at least) from what I've seen.

 

[currymuetze]

Hi,
I just bought a pair of them and so far they get along with eachother very well. Even the angel fish accepts them. I also bought a new small and young angel fish who seems to be their best friend, the three of them just swim together in the reef.

I was wondering how you feed them?
Once a day (evening) I feed frozen food, mostly artemia. That seems to be fine. In the morning though I have dry food but it does not seem like they take it.
Whats your experience?

Anyhow - these two fish ary by far the most cutest fish I saw. Shy, hidden in the rocks but very nice. Only small, hope the will get a little bigger soon.

Thorsten