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The Five Bar Mystery Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus ocellatus), also known simply as the Mystery Wrasse, is an elite, highly coveted marine species featuring an intense, deep pink-to-purple body beautifully contrasted by five subtle, vertical white-to-yellow bars. It is instantly recognized by a glowing neon-green outline around its eyes and a prominent, dark ink-black eyespot (ocellus) on its tail base, which mimics a large eye to confuse predators. Originating from deep, high-clarity drop-offs in the Indo-Pacific, this cryptic and highly active hunter brings incredible status and movement to mature reef setups.
Tank Requirements
Minimum Tank Size: 55 to 75 gallons or larger; as a highly energetic, tight-turning swimmer, it requires ample horizontal territory to patrol its hunting grounds.
Aquarium Decor: Highly intricate configurations of mature live rock forming multiple deep caves, tight tunnels, and shaded crevices. It naturally loves exploring vertical drop-offs and tight spaces, using the structural labyrinth to establish its territory.
Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C).
Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.020 – 1.025.
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4.
Care and Feeding
Diet: Carnivore; possesses a very active metabolism and a constant hunting drive. Provide a high-quality daily rotation of meaty frozen foods such as vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp, frozen krill, chopped fresh clams, and copepods. It will also eagerly consume small pest invertebrates like bristleworms or flatworms found on the rockwork.
Reef Safe Rating: Reef safe with caution; it is entirely harmless toward all types of small polyp stony (SPS) corals, large polyp stony (LPS) corals, and soft corals. However, mature specimens are highly predatory toward small ornamental invertebrates, meaning they will readily consume micro-crabs, small feather dusters, and delicate ornamental shrimp.
Temperament: Semi-aggressive to aggressive; while initially shy and reclusive during its introduction phase, it will transform into a bold, highly territorial tank boss once established. It will fiercely attack other members of the same genus (such as Six Line or Four Line Wrasses), similarly shaped fish, or small, docile newcomers, meaning it should be introduced as one of the final additions to the system.
The Five Bar Mystery Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus ocellatus), also known simply as the Mystery Wrasse, is an elite, highly coveted marine species featuring an intense, deep pink-to-purple body beautifully contrasted by five subtle, vertical white-to-yellow bars. It is instantly recognized by a glowing neon-green outline around its eyes and a prominent, dark ink-black eyespot (ocellus) on its tail base, which mimics a large eye to confuse predators. Originating from deep, high-clarity drop-offs in the Indo-Pacific, this cryptic and highly active hunter brings incredible status and movement to mature reef setups.
Tank Requirements
Minimum Tank Size: 55 to 75 gallons or larger; as a highly energetic, tight-turning swimmer, it requires ample horizontal territory to patrol its hunting grounds.
Aquarium Decor: Highly intricate configurations of mature live rock forming multiple deep caves, tight tunnels, and shaded crevices. It naturally loves exploring vertical drop-offs and tight spaces, using the structural labyrinth to establish its territory.
Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C).
Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.020 – 1.025.
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4.
Care and Feeding
Diet: Carnivore; possesses a very active metabolism and a constant hunting drive. Provide a high-quality daily rotation of meaty frozen foods such as vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp, frozen krill, chopped fresh clams, and copepods. It will also eagerly consume small pest invertebrates like bristleworms or flatworms found on the rockwork.
Reef Safe Rating: Reef safe with caution; it is entirely harmless toward all types of small polyp stony (SPS) corals, large polyp stony (LPS) corals, and soft corals. However, mature specimens are highly predatory toward small ornamental invertebrates, meaning they will readily consume micro-crabs, small feather dusters, and delicate ornamental shrimp.
Temperament: Semi-aggressive to aggressive; while initially shy and reclusive during its introduction phase, it will transform into a bold, highly territorial tank boss once established. It will fiercely attack other members of the same genus (such as Six Line or Four Line Wrasses), similarly shaped fish, or small, docile newcomers, meaning it should be introduced as one of the final additions to the system.