Pseudocheilinops ataenia - The Pink-Streaked Wrasse

[JHawlz9989]

I just received my first online fish order from Live Aquaria: a pink-streaked wrasse and a tailspot blenny! Both specimens arrived healthy and alert. Both will end up in my 20 long after they make it through their current quarantine. Since there are few to no threads about this particular wrasse, I figured I would start one and document my experiences with this fish.

I received a "medium" specimen from LA, and he is really small, somewhere around 1 1/4". The fish were unboxed with all lights and windows off and shut so the room was as dark as possible, and then I cut the outer bags away and floated them for ~15 minutes. He was fairly active and alert, cruising around the bag and looking at whatever he was looking at. I turned all flow off in the QT (10 gallon that was cycled with some dead rock), cut the bag open, and transferred him by hand. He didn't try and run from me at all, and just sort of sat there while I grabbed him. He made his way underneath some of the rock I have in the tank with little to no sense of urgency. The tailspot, on the other hand, was really freaked and and squeezed himself into the nearest nook in the rock as fast as possible. After a few minutes, I turned the flow back on (JBJ nano powerhead). The QT is on my desk in my room, and can receive some direct sunlight in the afternoon. For now, the lights will be off as much as possible for the next day or two until they calm down. I'll try a feeding later on tonight, and if they behave, may try and get some pictures! :spin2:

Josh

 

[Terryz_]

Even medium Pseudocheilinops ataenia would be small.. LOL.. Have never seen a actual big one before mine previous one was around 1+ inch... Same as the current one that I bought.. Try to get them to eat smaller food first.. It took mine about 1 week to eat mysis successfully.. As it is very shy and timid to come out of its pipe in the QT, I fed my homemade food first...

 

[JHawlz9989]

Even medium Pseudocheilinops ataenia would be small.. LOL.. Have never seen a actual big one before mine previous one was around 1+ inch... Same as the current one that I bought.. Try to get them to eat smaller food first.. It took mine about 1 week to eat mysis successfully.. As it is very shy and timid to come out of its pipe in the QT, I fed my homemade food first...

That is spot on. Mine, even after a few hours, was out and about exploring the rocks. I attempted to feed my usual mysis/bloodworm mix soaked in Selcon, and he did pick on the smallest pieces of mysis, and even ate a few. The fish is very shy, and makes a point to spend his time on the opposite side of the QT that I'm watching. If I'm very still, he won't pay me much attention, but he sure is quick to get away from any movement outside of the tank. I've only been able to get a few good pictures that are below. Two are the first and second day I had him, and the third was earlier this morning.

He doesn't pay much attention to the bloodworms, so I started exclusively feeding the QT mysis. The cycled tank has been a huge help, in that I can just toss some food in, and he'll eat it when he feels comfortable. The food ends up disappearing and all that is left is a big pile of fish poop, so I know it's getting eaten. I hope to make my own blend of food sometime this week and see if he accepts that.

The QT got a 50% water change with old DT water, and I began the first treatment of Prazipro today. I also put my clownfish that was in the DT into the QT so I can treat him. I've suspected some sort of internal worms for a little while now. The wrasse seems to avoid the clown, but I haven't seen any aggression or ill-will. I don't expect any violence at this point.

Josh

 

[JHawlz9989]

The wrasse seems to avoid the clown, but I haven't seen any aggression or ill-will. I don't expect any violence at this point.

Apparently I spoke too soon- the clown has begun to chase the blenny and wrasse around. It's not on a consistent basis, but if either of them happen to cross his path, he chases the blenny into his hole and watches him for about ten seconds, and chases the wrasse around the corner, but doesn't go any further. I haven't seen any attempt from the clown to do any tail-nipping. It looks much more similar to the charges that the female clown would do to the male.

The clown was formerly a submissive male who, once the female passed away, had the DT to himself for 9 months. Could that have encouraged this huge superiority complex? Is there any possibility that my formerly submissive male has changed to female?

As for the current state of the wrasse, he is doing great. I picked up some fish oil to soak their food in, and I've noticed an increased feeding response in spite of the Prazipro, which may suppress the appetite.

Any guidance on what to do with the clown? I suppose if I needed to, I could give him a separate 5g bucket and an airstone for his QT.

Also, thinking long-term, should I introduce the blenny and wrasse into the DT before the clown once their treatment is up?

Thanks,

Josh

 

[Shoryureppa]

I love these wrasses. I have a pair on a 50 gallon long! love their paranoid look kinda like what a conspiracy theorist would look like

 

[JHawlz9989]

I love these wrasses. I have a pair on a 50 gallon long! love their paranoid look kinda like what a conspiracy theorist would look like

They really are great fish! :rollface:

The rest of the quarantine went without a hitch. The wrasse continued to eat throughout the Prazipro treatment, easily taking mysis and bloodworms, and was yesterday moved into the DT, along with the blenny. I have yet to see him take to any flake or pellet food. He still spends most of his time throughout the rockwork picking on fauna, but I managed to coax him out with some mysis soaked in fish oil. I couldn't recommend these fish enough. They are peaceful and very colorful, and, in my opinion, an excellent alternative to the sixline. I hope to one day get another. Pictures are taken under 4 T5's (two Blue+, Aquablue Special, and Purple+) with an iPad. Pictures are fairly accurate with regards to color. Enjoy!

Josh

PS: If you look at the very top of the second and third picture, you can barely make out the blenny poking his head out of the rock.

 

[AquaBogie]

This may be an old thread but the question is still the same. I am really interested in the pink streaked wrasse at some point but I am wondering if they are aggressive towards anything in the tank at all. According to your previous posts it seems to be very timid. I just don't want him to go after my cleaner shrimp etc.

My fish stock is as follows:
1 Gold Assessor
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Yasha Hase Goby
3 Yellow Line Cardinalfish

Thanks for any help!

They really are great fish! :rollface:

The rest of the quarantine went without a hitch. The wrasse continued to eat throughout the Prazipro treatment, easily taking mysis and bloodworms, and was yesterday moved into the DT, along with the blenny. I have yet to see him take to any flake or pellet food. He still spends most of his time throughout the rockwork picking on fauna, but I managed to coax him out with some mysis soaked in fish oil. I couldn't recommend these fish enough. They are peaceful and very colorful, and, in my opinion, an excellent alternative to the sixline. I hope to one day get another. Pictures are taken under 4 T5's (two Blue+, Aquablue Special, and Purple+) with an iPad. Pictures are fairly accurate with regards to color. Enjoy!

Josh

PS: If you look at the very top of the second and third picture, you can barely make out the blenny poking his head out of the rock.

 

[trackhazard]

I can't imagine a pink streaked wrasse being aggressive to anything. I'd be more afraid of the cleaner shrimp attacking the wrasse.

I had one in a 50 gallon which was then moved to a 140 gallon and it has always been a model citizen. Ours didn't out very much but if you are patient, you will see glimpses of it as it cruises through the rocks. One of the coolest fish ever I think.

-Charlie

 

[evolved]

They are very docile and timid; I've never heard of one aggressive.

 

[Scridifer]

This may be an old thread but the question is still the same. I am really interested in the pink streaked wrasse at some point but I am wondering if they are aggressive towards anything in the tank at all. According to your previous posts it seems to be very timid. I just don't want him to go after my cleaner shrimp etc.

My fish stock is as follows:
1 Gold Assessor
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Yasha Hase Goby
3 Yellow Line Cardinalfish

Thanks for any help!

I think a pink streak would be a great addition to your present stock.

 

[snorvich]

This may be an old thread but the question is still the same. I am really interested in the pink streaked wrasse at some point but I am wondering if they are aggressive towards anything in the tank at all. According to your previous posts it seems to be very timid. I just don't want him to go after my cleaner shrimp etc.

My fish stock is as follows:
1 Gold Assessor
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Yasha Hase Goby
3 Yellow Line Cardinalfish

Thanks for any help!

Tank size?