Our hearts always beat faster when a new species is offered for the first time. We were tipped by our close friend Sagar Gurroby that a small group of P. argyreogaster has landed in Singapore. This seems to be a worldwide first, so we inquired to obtain more information and procured some spy photos.
Pencil wrasses, Pseudojuloides sp. are an uncommon find in the aquarium trade. Some species, like P. severnsi are sometimes on offer. Others, such as P. atavai, are even less frequently offered.
These unique fishes were collected in Mauritius, a remote island close to the African mainland, home of many unique fish such as gem tangs and polyzona tangs. These wrasses were also a first for the exporter on Mauritius so they were very proud to share some more information.
Online there is not much information available, but this website offers some insight on these special fish: https://seaunseen.com/ring-cheek-slender-wrasse/
Over the years we have seen quite a few book fish (as Jake Adams called fish that were only to be seen in books), not in the trade or appear in the trade. This wrasse is new in the trade as well and the photos and videos taken by Nigel Yeo from Reef Market Singapore don’t do them justice. We’re currently working on getting better photos that weren’t taken with a potato. One things for sure, this will not be a cheap wrasse, but something a wrasse fanatic will surely want to get his/her hands on!
We look forward to hearing experiences from the lucky buyer of these beautiful fish.
