Pencil Wrasse

ca1ore · Dec 8, 2018

Never kept one ..... any general observations about them? They seem to be generally considered intermediate and mostly reef tank compatible.

Flippers4pups · Dec 8, 2018

Bump. I've never had one.

Let's see what others say.

ispookie666 · Dec 8, 2018

ca1ore said:
Never kept one ..... any general observations about them? They seem to be generally considered intermediate and mostly reef tank compatible.

I had mine till a week or so ago, when it disappeared. Only to surface in the X filter - dead(looked fresh).
Had him for 5 ish months. Bought it off another reefer who had it for long time.

Got on well with other wrasses and was reef safe. Ate most of the things.

Reefaddict1979 · Dec 8, 2018

Had mine for 5 months
Great wrasse never had any issue with any other of my wrasses or fish

Only thing is man are they jumpers
He jumped onto my overflow 7 times and kept ending up In my sump until of corse finally one day he jumped out
Great fish but I do have a little space in the back corner of my tank by the overflow. So unfortunately no more pencil wrasses for me

LobsterOfJustice · Dec 8, 2018

I’ve kept two small tail pencil wrasses... they were good citizens and really not very noteworthy. Just really average as far as hardiness, etc. nothing special care-wise. Good looking fish you just don’t see them around much, not sure why.

eatbreakfast · Dec 9, 2018

New specimens can be delicate, similar in hardiness to leopard wrasses, but once established are pretty hardy.

They are an extremely peaceful species. Males are prone to losing their bright colors if kept with other assertive sand-burying wrasses.

ca1ore · Dec 9, 2018

Thanks. Saw a couple at the g’wich store and was tempted. But I try not to buy fish I know nothing about.

ca1ore · Dec 14, 2018

Picked a royal off DD. We shall see.

ca1ore · Jan 1, 2019

Pencil is in observation QT. Eating very well and color looks good (for now). Still working up to a full day of emergence. It currently comes out around 10 am and goes back in around 2 pm. Will need to get it to 8 hours before adding to the display. Got plenty of time as no more fish coming anytime soon (unless I see my ‘holy grails’ on DD :D).

ca1ore · Jan 4, 2019

Not a common fish apparently, so here is what one looks like. This is my permanent QT, so I don't worry about algae because it helps encourage pods. It's a quite aggressive eater.

User1 · Jan 4, 2019

That little fella looks like a fireball of energy. Neat.

MIKE NY · Jan 4, 2019

Royal pencil not that uncommon....I had one a few years ago and my LFS just got a shipment in of them. As mentioned they are prolific jumpers and are peaceful. They also are sand dwellers and the hardest part in keeping them is getting them to eat ....so it should do well for you. They also tend to lose the bright coloration....mine did. GL with it Simon....

ca1ore · Jan 15, 2019

Pencil heading to the DT this weekend. Has progressed to the point that it’s out most of the day.

ca1ore · Jan 29, 2019

Pencil doing well in the display. Skipped the acclimation box, as I usually do for sand sleepers. No aggression at all.

Jesterrace · Jan 29, 2019

ca1ore said:
It's a quite aggressive eater.

Sounds like a Wrasse to me. :D

ReefClutz · Jan 29, 2019

Gorgeous fish. Can sometimes be aggressive but otherwise a super awesome fish to have. Definitely big jumpers so make sure you have a secure lid.

jsvand5 · Jan 29, 2019

This is mine. He’s in the first half of the video.

I’ve had a royal for about 18 months now. Pretty cool fish. Got mine from the LFS. It is still a little skittish though. It’s probably the only fish I can remember having that didn’t eventually come to the front of the tank at feeding time. It still hides when I get close to the tank but eats great and has been trouble free.