• Fish of the Week - The Mystery Wrasse

    Mystery Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus ocellatus)



    The Mystery Wrasse is painted with vibrant colors and a whimsical face. You don't have to be a wrasse lover to want this particular species. Also referred to as a Whitebarred Wrasse because of a series of white vertical pinstripe-lines appearing on its body, it moves about the rockwork primarily for safety while scouring for snacks. The mixture of purple, blue, yellow and green all on the same fish has a coolness factor all its own, and you'd expect such a fish to be proud to show off its colors. Quick to retreat as you approach, itwill come out for food or if its curiosity is piqued. Yet have no fear, once this fish is comfortable, it will be out and about all day long.

    Origin: Marshall Islands
    Size: 11.25 cm / 4.5"
    Depth: 20 - 58 m
    Diet: Carnivore
    Coloration: Primarily purple with blue/green fins, spotted tail, and striped facial area.
    Difficulty: Easy
    Temperament: Semi-aggressive
    Salinity: 1.023 - 1.026sg
    Temperature range: 74° to 80° F



    While a sand-based reef is preferred by this fish, the Mystery wrasse sleeps in a hole or crevice in the rockwork, usually cocooned for the night. During late night flashlight expeditions of your reef, you may discover its favorite niche and be able to check on it in the same spot on future occasions. Try not to startle your fish with the beam of the flashlight while it sleeps, just take a peek and move on!

    Since this fish isn't common, it comes with a healthy price tag. Expect to pay $170 - $225 for a single specimen. After all, it comes from the Great Barrier Reef region (see map).

    Its diet is crustaceous in nature, and in our tanks it may devour some pests like flatworms or pyramid snails, as well as bristleworms. It may opt to eat some shrimp, especially if they were added later. It will eat pellet food, flake food, finely chopped meaty foods like mysis and other frozen fare that we normally offer our livestock. It is harmless to corals, clams and other invertebrates.

    It gets along well with other reef fish, including some wrasses. Since it can grow to be 4.5" long, it needs to be in a larger aquarium such as a 55g or greater. If you are lucky enough to find a tiny wrasse, it can start off in a small nano reef with the specific plan to upgrade to meet the demands of this fish.

    When checking compatibility for this fish, the usual suspects that might be a problem are the predatory ones like Lionfish, Triggerfish, Groupers, and Frogfish. Those tend to eat any fish that will fit their mouths, which is why those are generally not in our reef tanks. It will get along with angelfish, butterflyfish, tangs, clownfish... the docile reef fish we often select. The Mystery wrasse may not like new fish additions that are considered safe, but only for territorial reasons now that the fish has established its place in the reef.

    It, like other wrasses, may jump from the uncovered aquarium. Some type of mesh netting is a good method to keep it safe and avoid heat issues in a reef tank. It should live a long time with good water quality and proper tank husbandry.

    Acclimation instructions should be adhered to closely, following the vendor's guidelines if they feel reasonable to you. Considering what the Mystery Wrasse costs, err on the side of caution. Matching temperature, salinity and pH is the general rule, and if the acclimation procedure is lengthy, it may be wise to add an air stone to bubble in some oxygen to keep the fish's respiration cared for. Usually, it is best to keep acclimation to 45 to 60 minutes. Quarantining this fish is wise, allowing you to teach it what foods are offered in a zero-competition environment, preferably multiple times a day to allow the fish to build up its fat reserves. Keep up with water changes and siphon out uneaten food to maintain good water quality. If any signs of disease appear during the quarantine period, these will be easier to treat for instead of trying to pull the fish out of a fully stocked reef tank.
    Comments 20 Comments
    1. SaraB's Avatar
      SaraB -
      I thought this fish looked familiar ... great photo Gary!
    1. bleachandvomit's Avatar
      bleachandvomit -
      Cool! I'm super interested in vibrant deepwater species (hint hint) so this was a pleasure to read!
    1. VitalApparatuz's Avatar
      VitalApparatuz -
      I saw one at the LFS yesterday.A sign on the tank read "No Guarantee,difficult fish".Lol
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Quote Originally Posted by VitalApparatuz View Post
      I saw one at the LFS yesterday.A sign on the tank read "No Guarantee,difficult fish".Lol
      If you are an experienced reef keeper, it isn't a difficult fish - other than parting with your money.

      As soon as I saw it at my LFS last June, I had to buy it. It had jumped out of the display tank to a tank behind it, and underneath. In other words, it was in the "live rock" aquarium that you pick your rock from, and I saw it staring at me quietly. The owner wrote him off, saying "well, I guess he's not for sale anymore." My reply was an offer to take out every piece of LR so he could bag up the fish, and with his approval, I started pulling out rock and putting it in a nearby trash can until the tank was virtually rock free. The fish was bagged up, I put it in quarantine for at least a few weeks, and then moved it into my angled tank. He's been there ever since, and seems very happy there. I'd like to get a picture of him one day, but with the fact that he likes to stay in the shadows and the front panel is at a slope, it has proven very difficult to get any type of image of him.

    1. 1fishkeeper's Avatar
      1fishkeeper -
      There a great fish I loved the one that I use to have.
    1. icedgxe's Avatar
      icedgxe -
      They are great fish. Awesome personality and all around gorgeous. Here is a pic of mine.

    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      He's smiling! How old is yours, and do you still see the white bars on yours?
    1. VitalApparatuz's Avatar
      VitalApparatuz -
      Amazing pictures thanks!
    1. fredeau's Avatar
      fredeau -
      hello très beau poissons



      fredeau
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Welcome fredeau. D'accord.
    1. icedgxe's Avatar
      icedgxe -
      Quote Originally Posted by melev View Post
      He's smiling! How old is yours, and do you still see the white bars on yours?
      I have had him for roughly about 2 years. he was about 3 1/4" when I got him. Now he is around 4.5". His white bars have been gone for a while now but he is still a gorgeous fish w/out imo. I have always wondered why some have them and some don't. I guess they lose them with age.
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Quote Originally Posted by icedgxe View Post
      I have had him for roughly about 2 years. he was about 3 1/4" when I got him. Now he is around 4.5". His white bars have been gone for a while now but he is still a gorgeous fish w/out imo. I have always wondered why some have them and some don't. I guess they lose them with age.
      From what I read, that seems to be the case. I thought it might be the difference between male and female originally, but I'm not sure.
    1. icedgxe's Avatar
      icedgxe -
      It would be interesting to find out. I haven't really researched it enough.
    1. Jessy's Avatar
      Jessy -
      Quote Originally Posted by fredeau View Post
      hello très beau poissons
      fredeau
      Really nice pic! (and really nice lens too)
    1. lesd's Avatar
      lesd -
      1 more Mystery Wrasse that lost his white bars with age. I've had mine for 3.5 years.

    1. skinnywater's Avatar
      skinnywater -
      great photo
    1. Zoachic's Avatar
      Zoachic -


      I Love My Mr.E Wrasse!
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      I like this one better!
    1. D-byrd's Avatar
      D-byrd -
      Soooo. I bought a fairly juvenile mystery wrasse a couple wks ago whose been continuously tormented by my four line wrasse. The similar appearance of the wrasses is one thing that I had overlooked when purchasing my animated newcomer. I also have an exquisite wrasse who seems to pay no attention to his new acquantence. I'm hoping that my four line wrasse's territorial behavior is only temporary and that the mystery wrasse will condition this unwelcoming behavior enough to survive. Any suggestions?
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      You could put up a divider in the tank so they can see each other without hunting or harm. Or you can pull out the 4-line for a couple of days, then reintroduce it to reduce territorial issues.