All About Reef Safe Wrasses in Aquaria

[OrionN]

Instead of Diamond Tail Flasher, I got an Eightline Flasher about a year ago. She was a small tiny juvenile at less than 2 inches. Now, he is 3.5 inches and about to complete transform to terminal male. Still of some fins lengthen to do. Just yesterday I saw him flashes for the first time yesterday, I got a few poor quality picture because the light is going low so picture a little blurry, but the picture still show the complete transformation. Eightline Flasher is one of my favorite fishes. I will hunt around and get a Diamond Tail later. Right now I am QT and getting a Flame Fairy into shape in my QT system so I rather not added another fish in there.

5/10/2018

4/18/2019

5/10/2019

5/19/2019

 

[OrionN]

I am trying to nurse this emaciated Flame Fairy back to health. I order two medium females, and two very emaciated flame arrived. One die overnight and the other is doing better. Here is the picture of the one that live. First two picture was what I took ahead of time to use to build my case to get refund if he did not make it. This is after he started to eat already. The third picture is after a few days of heavy feeding in my QT system.
Emaciated wrasse with large head and pinched stomach, thin body.

5/19/2019, after feeding for about 5 days. Healing fins.

 

[Benj2112]

If they're the first two fish to go in, no need for an acclimation box if adding them at the same time.

Thanks Evolved. The McCosker's did not look good at all so only the Carpenter (pic of Carl at the store when I was picking him up) came home. I guess I will need an acclimation box for when the McCosker's is added.

 

[Benj2112]

Are Wrasses susceptible to attacks by hermit crabs at all? I read about them hiding in the rocks at night and I wonder about a hermit crab finding them and taking a swipe at it in the middle of the night. I don't have a CUC yet and wonder about this.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Any crab can be an opportunist, but most hermits don't go after most wrasses.

 

[evolved]

^ agree. No crab can every be fully trusted, but I'd not much worry about any normal sized (small) hermit that is commonly sold in the trade for a CUC. Plus, the mucus cocoon that the wrasse sleeps in does help hide/cover their scent from the crab.

I do keep hermits in my tank, fwiw.

 

[dsinsocal]

What is your summary of Vrolik's?

 

[eatbreakfast]

What is your summary of Vrolik's?

It is a sister species to H. melanurus, so care and temperament will be identical. They are mostly reef safe, though may go after shrimp, snails, and small crabs as they mature. Usually good for a community tank, but may be bossy to other peaceful wrasses.

 

[evolved]

It is a sister species to H. melanurus, so care and temperament will be identical. They are mostly reef safe, though may go after shrimp, snails, and small crabs as they mature. Usually good for a community tank, but may be bossy to other peaceful wrasses.

+1

 

[dsinsocal]

It is a sister species to H. melanurus, so care and temperament will be identical. They are mostly reef safe, though may go after shrimp, snails, and small crabs as they mature. Usually good for a community tank, but may be bossy to other peaceful wrasses.

Thanks guys. I suspected as much but wanted to make sure. As always, the help here is invaluable.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I recently listened to a podcast that recommended yellow coris wrasse heavily for helping with parasite and nuisance snail control in reef tanks, and even the online description in LA states it will protect corals and clams. Then they are labeled "reef safe with caution." (I don't have a parasite problem currently, just planning and think they could be a neat/useful addition to a tank).

Any idea why this isn't labeled a "reef safe" fish?

 

[DrOfWelshMagic]

I recently listened to a podcast that recommended yellow coris wrasse heavily for helping with parasite and nuisance snail control in reef tanks, and even the online description in LA states it will protect corals and clams. Then they are labeled "reef safe with caution." (I don't have a parasite problem currently, just planning and think they could be a neat/useful addition to a tank).

Any idea why this isn't labeled a "reef safe" fish?

I believe it's because they are likely to make a meal out of desirable inverts such as ornamental shrimp.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I believe it's because they are likely to make a meal out of desirable inverts such as ornamental shrimp.

Ahhh. Well darn. All the wrasses I really like are similar! Going to have to go back to focusing on flasher and fairy wrasses.

 

[WMR]

Evolved, very exceptional read, I, too like wrasses. I try to include 1 or 2 in my tank. You are the WRASSE guy

 

[evolved]

I recently listened to a podcast that recommended yellow coris wrasse heavily for helping with parasite and nuisance snail control in reef tanks, and even the online description in LA states it will protect corals and clams. Then they are labeled "reef safe with caution." (I don't have a parasite problem currently, just planning and think they could be a neat/useful addition to a tank).

Any idea why this isn't labeled a "reef safe" fish?

They are, in fact, a mostly reef-safe species. There's a small chance they might nibble on feather dusters, and an even smaller chance they might eat an occasional snail or hermit once they're a full-size adult. Shrimps are generally safe.

 

[Indytraveler83]

They are, in fact, a mostly reef-safe species. There's a small chance they might nibble on feather dusters, and an even smaller chance they might eat an occasional snail or hermit once they're a full-size adult. Shrimps are generally safe.

So if I don’t really mind them eating a $0.25 member of the CuC on occasion, they should be good? I can totally handle that, I’d just hate to have them eat a skunk shrimp, pistol shrimp or something I was more heavily invested in.

 

[evolved]

So if I don’t really mind them eating a $0.25 member of the CuC on occasion, they should be good?

Exactly.

I’d just hate to have them eat a skunk shrimp, pistol shrimp or something I was more heavily invested in.

It would certainly be quite the rarity. Anything is possible with wild animals, of course.

 

[Indytraveler83]

Exactly.

It would certainly be quite the rarity. Anything is possible with wild animals, of course.

That’s great! Are there any other smallish peaceful wrasses that get missed in the typical reef safe category, that might be a similar story?

 

[evolved]

That’s great! Are there any other smallish peaceful wrasses that get missed in the typical reef safe category, that might be a similar story?

Check the species notes on the first post.

 

[Indytraveler83]

Check the species notes on the first post.

Cool! Just read through that, and it seems like this applies to most of the Halichoeres wrasses. I’ll have to look at them, but there appear to be some very neat animals in that group that aren’t terribly expensive. Thanks a lot!