Royal Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides severnsi)
Compatibility and Behavior
A solo male Royal Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides severnsi) is about as close as you get to a living jewel that doesn't take over the tank. Mature males run emerald-to-teal green down the body with sharply defined magenta, orange, or yellow streaking across the flanks and face, finished with glowing blue or purple fin edging that flickers as the fish "pencils" through the water on that slim, torpedo-like frame. It's neon detailing on a small canvas, which is exactly why one male makes such a good feature fish without crowding the aquascape. Temperament tends to be peaceful, and a lone male generally shines in a calm community of other small, mellow fish, spending its day weaving through the rocks hunting micro-inverts rather than bothering anyone. It's reef safe with corals, though like most micro-crustacean hunters a male may pick off very small ornamental shrimp, so lean toward sturdier cleanup crew members in a display.
Aquarium Requirements
Sand is the dealbreaker with this one. Like all the pencil wrasses, a male dives straight into a fine, soft bed to sleep and to escape a fright, so a couple of inches of fine substrate is a genuine survival requirement rather than a nicety, and bare-bottom or coarse-only tanks are off the table. Sort that out and a 70 to 90 gallon tank with a long footprint gives a single male in the 2.5 to 3.5 inch range room to roam and claim a territory, with arches, ledges, and shaded breaks in the rock balanced against open mid-water lanes. The other must is a tight-fitting lid, since these are practiced jumpers that will slip through the smallest gap. Moderate, well-distributed flow and solid filtration round out the basics. Keep a solo male in peak color with several small daily feedings of mysis, enriched brine, small crustacean blends, and quality marine pellets.
Specifications
Approximate Size: 2.5–3.5"
Diet: Carnivore; mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and quality marine pellets
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Intermediate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Special Considerations: Requires a couple of inches of fine sand for burrowing and sleeping, so bare-bottom or coarse-substrate tanks aren't suitable; a capable jumper that needs a tight-fitting lid; may prey on very tiny ornamental shrimp and micro-inverts
Pairs well with
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Shipping Information
- Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday. Orders will be shipped overnight on the soonest possible shipping day, unless you request to hold the order for up to one business day.
- Your order will ship same-day if placed before 12:30 PM PST on a shipping day.
- Orders placed after 12:30 PM PST will ship on the next shipping day.
- Stay tuned to our Announcement Bar (black bar at the top of every page) for important shipping announcements...we may reach our max limit of orders we can ship on Mondays.
- If it is very hot, very cold, or if you live in a rural area, ship to a UPS Access Point to save your livestock from hours of exposure to the elements. Click here to see how.
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FAQ’s
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if UPS is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a UPS Access Point, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.
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Contact Us
Send us an email at sales@reefbeauties.com and we will get back to you shortly.
We do not offer phone calls. We handle our inquiries with timely emails to ensure a qualified and high-quality response, to have all conversations on record, and to avoid miscommunications that can occur over the phone.
Free shipping on orders over $199!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if FedEx is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a FedEx Ship Center, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.