4 line wrasse

[gnoskram13]

hey reefers
I recently got a 4 line wrasse, had 2 peppermint shrimp. One went missing yesterday and another is gone today. I dont see any signs of molting and the wrasses belly is big. Im assuming he killed and ate them but I wanted to know if this is normal behaivor



Thanks

 

[Mike Ashton]

Hi yes this is normal for wrasse as small shrimps are a major part of their diet in the wild but I find it more affordable to feed mysis/krill with the occasional feeder shrimp

 

[Jesterrace]

Yes, the idea that 6 line, 4 line, etc. wrasses are "Reef Safe" is a myth as they will munch inverts like the Halichoeres and Thassaloma Wrasses will. "With Caution" is the more appropriate way to describe them. They generally leave corals alone though.

 

[justmee]

I never knew 6 and 4 line wrasses will go after shrimps, now I know what happened to my fire shrimps -- my shrimps just disappeared one day... :(

 

[Jesterrace]

I never knew 6 and 4 line wrasses will go after shrimps, now I know what happened to my fire shrimps -- my shrimps just disappeared one day... :(

Yeah, I did hear of one extreme example where a 6 line literally tore apart every invert and coral in someone's tank. Definitely a fluke on the corals though as I haven't heard of any other issues with 6 lines and corals. IMHO 6 lines and 4 lines are best suited to dedicated frag tanks as pest removers.