Jan 2026 POTM Wrasses

[stE26wy14]

too bad I dont have a wrasse :(
these photos be looking great!!

 

[TheNative192]

Pulled out the good old Motorola Razr V3i to capture this moment — my six-line wrasse living his best, surprisingly peaceful life. #blessed

 

[kevgib67]

Another peaceful sixline.

 

[maroun.c]

Amazing fish and photo. How big is he? He looks big and like he's been around a while. I would have loved to enter a photo I've taken of Tusks, but they are in tanks I maintain and not my home tank.

Not my submission

Beautiful shots

 

[maroun.c]

One decent shot in a hundred is about what I get as well

I always used to count my keepers ratio out of 36 back in film days and somehow I carried the reflex I guess where I still try my best to shoot short bursts and get 1-2 usable shots out of a burst if 5-6 shots. I find that even the best cameras focus wont keep the lock on moving fish and linger bursts automatically have a very high percentage of out of focus shots.
Even experimented with fmdifferent continuous focus mode abd it was successful with some fish in different focus modes, unfortunately was too random to be used methodically. I wish we would have a fish focus mode like birds or animals or human focus mode in cameras.

 

[maroun.c]

Official entry

Macropharyngodon bipartitus

Love this fish and u captured it very well

 

[IntrinsicReef]

I always used to count my keepers ratio out of 36 back in film days and somehow I carried the reflex I guess where I still try my best to shoot short bursts and get 1-2 usable shots out of a burst if 5-6 shots. I find that even the best cameras focus wont keep the lock on moving fish and linger bursts automatically have a very high percentage of out of focus shots.
Even experimented with fmdifferent continuous focus mode abd it was successful with some fish in different focus modes, unfortunately was too random to be used methodically. I wish we would have a fish focus mode like birds or animals or human focus mode in cameras.

I used to shoot my Dad's Nikon SLR and remember the precious feeling of trying to make every shot count on film. But, I am spoiled with digital now. And part of the fun is looking through a few hundred photos, and seeing little mini-movies frame by frame of fish and animals up close. So, I ignore the shutter count and make camera go brrrrrr.

 

[RichWise73]

Best picture that I could get of one of my wrasses. They are too active. Lol

 

[i cant think]

Welcome to the Reef2Reef January 2026 POTM Contest - Photo of the Month
Sponsored by Avast Marine!

This month's subject - Wrasses
Deadline to Enter: Jan 26th, 2025 at 11:59 pm (EST)

This month's POTM is Wrasses

Remember, the photo has to have been taken by you, and the subject has to be in your aquarium. No watermarks or captions are allowed in the pictures, and pictures with watermarks will be disqualified. A bit of info around your Wrasse, how long you had it, what do you feed it... as well as info on what makes it special to you and what you think it needs to be its best!

This is a photo contest after all, and we're looking for the best photograph. Yes, you can use a post-editing to improve your pictures. We encourage it! Here are a few tips:

• Clean the tank glass a day in advance of the photoshoot.
• Compose your shot or adjust framing in post processing to get a composition that showcases the shot the best
• make sure to use a fast shutter speed as wrasses are fast swimmers and rarely stay still for a shot.

As always, refer to the multiple photography articles or post any questions you might have on the photography forum for better support. You may also want to post a few pictures for suggestions and critique to improve your shots while preparing for this month's contest.

Prize: The winner will recieve a POTM Winner Banner, one year free Premium Membership, and an Avast Marine Porthole courtesy of Avast Marine. (Note: Winners located outside the United States will be responsible for applicable shipping costs)

How To Enter:
Entering is easy, just a few simple guidelines to follow:

1. Enter ONE photo, taken by you of the subject for the month before the deadline

Posting a second or more photo, for discussion purposes, you need to mark just above the picture: Not my submission. Failing to do so, your submission will be disqualified.

If you want to change your submission, ensure that you tag the first entry as above or delete it before posting the new submission. If you are unable to edit or delete, please PM me to have it done before you upload your new submission.

Here are some rules:

• Multiple entries, off-subject photos, or broken image links will be disqualified.
• Entries must be submitted before the deadline
• The photo must be taken by you and in your tank
• Pictures with watermarks will be disqualified
• You must have an avatar uploaded when you enter
• Prior winners (within the last 6 months) are welcome to enter, but not eligible for the prizes
• To qualify to win the Avast Marine Porthole, you must also like the Avast Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/avast.marine/

Winner Selection:
The mod team will select up to 15 finalists, and a poll will be created and posted in the Reef Discussion Forum. The Grand Prize Winner will be determined by Reef2Reef member voting. To be eligible to vote, you must have been a member for 30 days and have 25 meaningful posts. Votes cast by members who do not meet these criteria will be disregarded in the final count. In the case of a tie, the mod team will assist in choosing the winner. Rules, deadlines, and terms are subject to change without notice at any time. The winner will be posted and tagged in the voting poll and will have 48 hours to claim the prize.

Soliciting votes, non-constructive criticism of submissions in the POTM thread or in the voting thread, challenging the Moderators' choice for the 15 finalists or the votes of other members, identifying which picture is yours or another member's submission in the voting thread... will result in your comments being automatically deleted and your submission being disqualified. This is to ensure a smooth POTM and voting process. We welcome positive critique and suggestions; however, this has to wait till after the voting deadline and preferably in a separate thread in the photography forum.

As this is a photography competition, the goal is to recognize the highest quality picture. So take your time, do your post-shot editing, and submit your best image.

Good luck to all and may the best picture win.

#POTM #POTMWinners #MODS

Ooooh!!! Maybe I can get into the list of final photos this year???

My Entry has to be this dude… he is my wrasse that I think everyone knows me for.

But just because I want to show off the wrasses again, here were the other photos I was torn between.

 

[i cant think]

I don’t own a tank large enough for a wrasse, so I’ll have to sit this one out

I’ve never heard of this… Check out the Pink Streaks (Pinkies!!!)

 

[i cant think]

too bad I dont have a wrasse :(
these photos be looking great!!

Sounds like it may be time to go fish shopping?

 

[steveschuerger]

I’ve never heard of this… Check out the Pink Streaks (Pinkies!!!)

Possums?

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Ooooh!!! Maybe I can get into the list of final photos this year???

My Entry has to be this dude… he is my wrasse that I think everyone knows me for.

But just because I want to show off the wrasses again, here were the other photos I was torn between.

Wow! What Wrasse is that? I've never seen one before

 

[i cant think]

Wow! What Wrasse is that? I've never seen one before

The top one is my male Pseudojuloides kaleidos (Blue Nose Pencil Wrasse) If I had a photo of both I’d absolutely have entered it
The others are:
1. Pseudocheilinus ocellatus (Mystery Wrasse)
2. Halichoeres lapillus (Jewelled Leopard Wrasse)
3. Halichoeres biocellatus (Red Lined Wrasse)

 

[IntrinsicReef]

The top one is my male Pseudojuloides kaleidos (Blue Nose Pencil Wrasse) If I had a photo of both I’d absolutely have entered it
The others are:
1. Pseudocheilinus ocellatus (Mystery Wrasse)
2. Halichoeres lapillus (Jewelled Leopard Wrasse)
3. Halichoeres biocellatus (Red Lined Wrasse)

Those are amazing. I'm a sucker for a Mystery Wrasse. So expressive

 

[littlefoxx]

Taken with Iphone

Um yeah no. Not fair no need for me to enter no way I can top this awesome shot

 

[littlefoxx]

These are my wrasses: Bullet (Lunare) and Cookie (twin coris).

Official entry

 

[i cant think]

These are my wrasses: Bullet (Lunare) and Cookie (twin coris).

Official entry

A two in one shot? Now that’s a winner

 

[i cant think]

Those are amazing. I'm a sucker for a Mystery Wrasse. So expressive

The mystery is my third favourite out of the bunch - I have around 12-15 wrasses in total in the 5 foot and close to around 18 through all 4 tanks.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

The mystery is my third favourite out of the bunch - I have around 12-15 wrasses in total in the 5 foot and close to around 18 through all 4 tanks.

I put Mystery Wrasses in any tank I can. Love them. I hope a wrasse fanatic wins this month. Those wrasses are special.