Christmas Wrasse Reef Safe?

[smoothie7]

My LFS has a beautiful Christmas Wrasse. They told me he is reef safe but would probably kill shrimp. Anybody have first hand experience with this fish?

 

[mues]

To my understanding there are a few different species of "Christmas Wrasse" in the hobby, and it would depend on the species. The larger ones will definitely go after inverts. Depends on what you would consider reef safe and what actual species it is. Pics would probably help and @Slocke or @i cant think will be able to answer better than I.

 

[Dburr1014]

@Slocke or @i cant think maybe can offer some help.

 

[Slocke]

All of the species are generally smaller species of Halichoeres. Small shrimp might be at risk but most cleaner shrimp and other medium to large inverts will be totally fine.

 

[i cant think]

All of the species are generally smaller species of Halichoeres. Small shrimp might be at risk but most cleaner shrimp and other medium to large inverts will be totally fine.

There is one Thalassoma species though. And Ornatissimus from memory was more boisterous than the other Halichoeres.

 

[Slocke]

There is one Thalassoma species though. And Ornatissimus from memory was more boisterous than the other Halichoeres.

True don’t get Thalassoma trilobatum

 

[i cant think]

True don’t get Thalassoma trilobatum

There may be another Thalassoma then, but I think the other is Hawaiian endemic - T. purpureum. Last I saw one available it was a ‘Christmas wrasse’

 

[Slocke]

There is one Thalassoma species though. And Ornatissimus from memory was more boisterous than the other Halichoeres.

It’s another red and green wrasse. What should we call it? Christmas wrasse again?

Well we do call every yellow wrasse a banana wrasse. And every monochromatic wrasse a coris wrasse.

There may be another Thalassoma then, but I think the other is Hawaiian endemic - T. purpureum. Last I saw one available it was a ‘Christmas wrasse’

Trilobatum is the most common wrasse I saw in Hawaii

 

[Slocke]

My LFS has a beautiful Christmas Wrasse. They told me he is reef safe but would probably kill shrimp. Anybody have first hand experience with this fish?

I think in summary OP snap a pic and post it and we can tell you what it is and if it’s safe to add.

 

[mues]

It’s another red and green wrasse. What should we call it? Christmas wrasse again?

Well we do call every yellow wrasse a banana wrasse. And every monochromatic wrasse a coris wrasse.

Trilobatum is the most common wrasse I saw in Hawaii

I call my two yellow wrasses...... yellow coris :grimacing-face:

 

[Kona22]

My LFS has a beautiful Christmas Wrasse. They told me he is reef safe but would probably kill shrimp. Anybody have first hand experience with this fish?

I have biocellatus Christmas wrasse, 4inch male , added a skunk cleaner and several peppermint shrimp recently and he has ignored them. I do keep my fish well fed which probably help's.

 

[blecki]

I have either a halichoeres claudia or a halichoeres ornatissimus and small snails and hermit crabs are only safe because they hide in their shells. I already made the peppermint shrimp mistake, between them or the other two halichoeres I've got shrimp are not safe.

 

[Slocke]

I have several Halichoeres and my shrimp are always out and about and my hermit crab population is strong so..

 

[tritonpower]

I have a Christmas wrasse and yellow coris wrasse. They have both left peppermint and cleaner shrimps alone so far.

 

[TrottingReef]

I see my Thalassoma going after hermits they grab them and dive bomb them against the rocks to shatter the shells. All the Halichoeres I have ignore the hermits.

 

[Slocke]

I see my Thalassoma going after hermits they grab them and dive bomb them against the rocks to shatter the shells. All the Halichoeres I have ignore the hermits.

Thalassoma will even eat urchins

 

[TrottingReef]

I still love my bonded pair of Lunar's. I will have to move one of them to another tank eventually but right now they are great to watch.

 

[blecki]

Proof that all fish are individuals... Canary wrasse eats snails, but only the turbo snail babies. Vroliks eats bristle worms. But none of these fish I bought specifically to eat flat worms will touch them.

 

[nereefpat]

Well, smoothie. Which Christmas wrasse is it?