Species Spotlight: Pseudocheilinops ataenia – The Pink-Streaked Wrasse

[WaltersMadness]

Nope. Ultimately, it's not a big enough species for such.

Wow seems nice , basically I was looking for a pest controller I’m not sure if this is it , I’m avoiding a six line and looking when I came across this ... does this fish have some similar advantages? The article is really good

 

[evolved]

Wow seems nice , basically I was looking for a pest controller I’m not sure if this is it , I’m avoiding a six line and looking when I came across this ... does this fish have some similar advantages? The article is really good

It's a great alternative to a sixline for smaller tanks. Lacks all the attitude.
How large is your tank and does it have sand? They're may be other alternatives too.

 

[LaraLouM]

This is great information, thank you for the write-up!

 

[ReefRy]

What a wonderful synopsis!

 

[Lindaanne60]

I would like to take a moment to share with all of you one of my favorite fish in reef aquaria, and one that has consistently been a great addition to not only my tank, but to a lot of fellow hobbyists’ tanks as well. Pseudocheilinops ataenia, or as it is commonly known, the “Pink-Streaked Wrasse”, is a great little wrasse for tanks as small as 10 gallons (I personally would recommend 20 gallons or larger for reasons I will share later).

View attachment 747752

Note that a large amount of the following is based on my own personal experience with this little fish, but I have also done extensive research into others’ experiences with it. All pictures are of my own P. ataenia, who I have affectionally named “Lord Sauron” since his bright orange eyes remind me of the Eye of Sauron from the ever-popular Lord of the Rings fantasy novels by J. R. R. Tolkien.

P. ataenia comes from the Western Pacific Ocean, on tropical reefs located in and around the Philippines, Celebes (Indonesia), and Palau. It will normally be found in depths of 5 to 15 meters around grown out stony coral branches in small groups. It can be found often feeding on amphipods and other small invertebrates. It is not a fish that ventures far from its chosen area, often staying in and around coral branches so that it can make a quick getaway to shelter if needed.

P. ataenia is a very modest fish, and as such is not one to act aggressively towards any tank mates, oftentimes including other pink-streaked wrasses and small possum wrasses. Unfortunately, this also makes the pink-streak vulnerable to aggression from other fish since it would rather run away than try to defend itself. This is why it is best to keep P. ataenia in smaller tanks with peaceful tank mates.

View attachment 745057

Once established, P. ataenia will be very active in the aquarium. It can often be found closely examining rocks and corals for copepods, amphipods, and other small invertebrates that it considers a food source. For this reason, it may not be best to keep P. ataenia with dragonets or other fish that feed predominantly on copepods, amphipods, etc. P. ataenia will readily accept mysis, black or blood worms, cyclops, rotifers, and other frozen/prepared foods in the aquarium hobby as well as flake and pelleted food as long as the piece of food is small enough for it to eat. My own P. ataenia enjoys mysis and prepared food offerings such as LRS Reef Frenzy but has also taken to liking spirulina flakes that I sometimes offer my fish.

Personality-wise, P. ataenia is a very curious fish and will often stay around the front of the tank when you are around it, ever-watching you with those bright orange eyes as only a wrasse can. Unlike the more common and popular nano-aquarium wrasse, the Six-line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataeni), P. ataenia will not act aggressively towards newcomers. P. ataenia will most often casually swim around the aquarium, minding its own business and staying out of the way of tank mates. Some hobbyists have successfully kept pairs of P. ataenia, but as with other wrasses, P. ataenia can switch genders from female to male and possibly act aggressively towards other males.

View attachment 745055

P. ataenia can be successfully kept in tanks as small as 10 gallons, but it is also a very active fish and if there are going to be multiple fish in the aquarium, it may be better to keep P. ataenia in something like a 20 gallon reef aquarium. As with most wrasses, there is a risk of jumping and a tight-fitting lid should be kept on the aquarium at all times. It does sleep in a mucus cocoon, so a few small caves and crevices will give it plenty of options to hide in before it builds its cocoon.

P. ataenia may provide some pest control benefits as well. It has been said by other hobbyists that their P. ataenia consumed small bristleworms and feather dusters. I have personally seen my P. ataenia go after a vermetied snail. As with any fish, however, you shouldn't expect them to completely eradicate a pest, but merely help keep their population at a reduced level.

View attachment 745059

Overall, my experience with P. ataenia has been very positive. It is a great little inquisitive fish that fits well in my Innovative Marine Nuvo 20. It has been a much better experience than the year or so that I had a sixline wrasse, notably in the aggression field. Hopefully, these little guys will become more common in the hobby and more nano reef aquarium owners will share in my experience!


References:

https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Pseudocheilinops-ataenia.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/187594/0

I just got one today and I’m waiting for it to come out of hiding Great info. Thanks

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I have had mine for over a month. I love this wrasse so much, it errantly swims through the tank devouring copepods and amphipods at night.

 

[Daan Hijmans]

I was dabbling on a third fish to join my clowns in my 20 gallon, but no more. This fish sounds like a perfect addition! Thanks a lot, great write up

 

[RazorRamon]

Yep - I heard 6 lines can be aggressive and should consider a 4 line... but this fish looks like a much nicer alternative and I love the coloring on the pelvic fins - they really stand out in other pics I have seen. Thanks so much for the great article.

I have a four line and he's a jerk

 

[hotdogmj71]

My favorite fish - I've had 1 for several years. Great pictures are in the original post as this is not an easy fish to capture in a photo. I am amazed at how every other fish in my tank seems to not notice the PSW. It just sort of glides around and out of everyone's way. Mine has a great personality and has a funny habit of grabbing a HUGE piece of food (he is a very chubby and around 2.5in long). He then takes it over to a rock and proceeds to spit it onto the rock to break it into smaller pieces.

Great write up. Thanks for the great pics

 

[CindyKz]

Are these known to eat up the Acoel Flatworm? I hope they do!!!

I'm pretty sure mine does. I've never seen him eat them, but I also don't see the flatworms anymore

 

[ReeferWarrant]

@CindyKz, same here I found some in my rear chamber, yet none in the display tank. I'm ok with a free food source.

 

[gunflintcamper]

Great article!
Wondering if they are safe with sexy shrimp? I see one person said theirs was fine...but in general?

 

[Zionas]

How long do these guys live for?

 

[PopBot16]

I would like to take a moment to share with all of you one of my favorite fish in reef aquaria, and one that has consistently been a great addition to not only my tank, but to a lot of fellow hobbyists’ tanks as well. Pseudocheilinops ataenia, or as it is commonly known, the “Pink-Streaked Wrasse”, is a great little wrasse for tanks as small as 10 gallons (I personally would recommend 20 gallons or larger for reasons I will share later).

View attachment 747752

Note that a large amount of the following is based on my own personal experience with this little fish, but I have also done extensive research into others’ experiences with it. All pictures are of my own P. ataenia, who I have affectionally named “Lord Sauron” since his bright orange eyes remind me of the Eye of Sauron from the ever-popular Lord of the Rings fantasy novels by J. R. R. Tolkien.

P. ataenia comes from the Western Pacific Ocean, on tropical reefs located in and around the Philippines, Celebes (Indonesia), and Palau. It will normally be found in depths of 5 to 15 meters around grown out stony coral branches in small groups. It can be found often feeding on amphipods and other small invertebrates. It is not a fish that ventures far from its chosen area, often staying in and around coral branches so that it can make a quick getaway to shelter if needed.

P. ataenia is a very modest fish, and as such is not one to act aggressively towards any tank mates, oftentimes including other pink-streaked wrasses and small possum wrasses. Unfortunately, this also makes the pink-streak vulnerable to aggression from other fish since it would rather run away than try to defend itself. This is why it is best to keep P. ataenia in smaller tanks with peaceful tank mates.

View attachment 745057

Once established, P. ataenia will be very active in the aquarium. It can often be found closely examining rocks and corals for copepods, amphipods, and other small invertebrates that it considers a food source. For this reason, it may not be best to keep P. ataenia with dragonets or other fish that feed predominantly on copepods, amphipods, etc. P. ataenia will readily accept mysis, black or blood worms, cyclops, rotifers, and other frozen/prepared foods in the aquarium hobby as well as flake and pelleted food as long as the piece of food is small enough for it to eat. My own P. ataenia enjoys mysis and prepared food offerings such as LRS Reef Frenzy but has also taken to liking spirulina flakes that I sometimes offer my fish.

Personality-wise, P. ataenia is a very curious fish and will often stay around the front of the tank when you are around it, ever-watching you with those bright orange eyes as only a wrasse can. Unlike the more common and popular nano-aquarium wrasse, the Six-line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataeni), P. ataenia will not act aggressively towards newcomers. P. ataenia will most often casually swim around the aquarium, minding its own business and staying out of the way of tank mates. Some hobbyists have successfully kept pairs of P. ataenia, but as with other wrasses, P. ataenia can switch genders from female to male and possibly act aggressively towards other males.

View attachment 745055

P. ataenia can be successfully kept in tanks as small as 10 gallons, but it is also a very active fish and if there are going to be multiple fish in the aquarium, it may be better to keep P. ataenia in something like a 20 gallon reef aquarium. As with most wrasses, there is a risk of jumping and a tight-fitting lid should be kept on the aquarium at all times. It does sleep in a mucus cocoon, so a few small caves and crevices will give it plenty of options to hide in before it builds its cocoon.

P. ataenia may provide some pest control benefits as well. It has been said by other hobbyists that their P. ataenia consumed small bristleworms and feather dusters. I have personally seen my P. ataenia go after a vermetied snail. As with any fish, however, you shouldn't expect them to completely eradicate a pest, but merely help keep their population at a reduced level.

View attachment 745059

Overall, my experience with P. ataenia has been very positive. It is a great little inquisitive fish that fits well in my Innovative Marine Nuvo 20. It has been a much better experience than the year or so that I had a sixline wrasse, notably in the aggression field. Hopefully, these little guys will become more common in the hobby and more nano reef aquarium owners will share in my experience!


References:

https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Pseudocheilinops-ataenia.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/187594/0

Can you have multiple PSWs in a large enough tank, with no other wrasses?

 

[Jw258]

Will these sleep amongst rock or do they need a sand bed? Will they eat flat worms as proflically as a six line? Thanks for your thoughts.