fish only wrasses that can be suitable for reef tank

dputt88 · Jun 24, 2018

I am returning to the hobby after a couple years off. back when i had my old 90 gal i used to have a christmas wrasse and a yellow choris wrasse. i now notice that both of these are listed as not reef safe my live aquaria. whats with that?

I used to keep many types of coral, had a couple clams, nems. i never noticed them bothering anything other than giving astrea snail a hard time, i dont think thy killed any. thought i would imagine them picking at feather dusters.

so whats the risk of added a few of these wrasses to my new 240g?

Nburg's Reef · Jun 24, 2018

They are not listed as reef safe because they may or may not eat shrimp or pick on snails and crabs.

dputt88 · Jun 24, 2018

would a pistol shrimp be at risk, its paired with a orange spot goby?

ca1ore · Jun 24, 2018

I would not view the LA designation as gospel. There are many that I'd judge to be mis classified. Also depends on one's definition of 'reef safe'. To me, for example, as long as a fish doesn't do major damage to SPS it's safe.

As example both dusky and Hoeven's are in the fish only wrasse category. Former is stated as reef safe, the latter as cautioned. Yet, my experience is that both are fine. A little hard on the clean up crews (dusky slightly harder) perhaps, but great pest control.

eatbreakfast · Jun 24, 2018

I've never had yellow coris wrasses go after inverts, they are a must-have fish in any tank.

There are varying degrees of risks from Halichoeres wrasses to motile verts. Smaller species within the genus are usually sager.

Sobo's Reef · Jun 24, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
I've never had yellow coris wrasses go after inverts, they are a must-have fish in any tank.

There are varying degrees of risks from Halichoeres wrasses to motile verts. Smaller species within the genus are usually sager.

I was considering a yellow Wrasse for my tank.. curious though, what makes them a “must have” for any tank?