Jan 2026 POTM Wrasses

DSC08234.jpg
 
Melanurus I acquired from Elliot at Marine Collectors. Got it Dec 10 2025 the same day I took this picture with a highly sophisticated iphone14 Pro +401 special edition blue with screen protector! The fish is a model citizen besides a few minor shrimp and crab casualties. It enjoys weekly snail games, the more it flips the more it wins. This is my first wrasse ever and couldn’t be happier about it.
IMG_5159.jpeg
 
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.
Kaleidos Pencil Wrasse.jpeg



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

Jewelled Leopard.jpeg

Red Face Wrasse.jpeg
Love your kaleidos. Wosh you had a better shot of the lapillus. Not sure if photos capture how good they look in person though.
 
Love your kaleidos. Wosh you had a better shot of the lapillus. Not sure if photos capture how good they look in person though.
One of the reasons I didn’t pick that was simply because I have never had a photo which catches their vibrant red, they’re truly like no other fish.
I have a tank at my LFS which had 4 Vivian’s and 4 Lapillus in and I will just stare at that system for hours.
 
Bumping this so more people know about it!
 
Oldest wrasse in my tank (Labout's Fairy Wrasse - Hinelea - 1 year 8 months) - Has survived 1 trip in the overflow and 1 carpet surf (tank is covered happened during some maintance).

Offical Entry
DSCG9590-20251125-2.jpg
One of the best ways to photograph wrasses is always through focusing on their eye because you just get so many patterns. But to succeed it on a Laboutei? Even mine is too quick to be successful at that, how did you manage it?
 
One of the best ways to photograph wrasses is always through focusing on their eye because you just get so many patterns. But to succeed it on a Laboutei? Even mine is too quick to be successful at that, how did you manage it?
Just the right place at the right time....I have lots of not focused on eye pics....LOL....

I would say burst mode on my camera (XT-5 in this case) can definitely help as it will take a few pictures in succession and typicall 1 catches the focus right
 
Do they scrap with each other? Or mostly just posture
Mostly flashing but I feel it's because the Halichoeres is faster/smarter and more agile. It tends to go towards the powerheads/flow when it's being chased and the Cirrhilabrus stops but it's a bully. One interesting observation, from time to time I see the Chrysus Halichoeres going after the Cirrhilabrus almost like to stop it from going after the Iridis.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT PART OF LIVING WITH A REEF TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE?

  • How much space the supplies and equipment take up

    Votes: 5 55.6%
  • Salt creep, spills, and cleanup outside the tank

    Votes: 1 11.1%
  • Planning trips or finding someone to care for the reef

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • How attached I’d get to individual animals

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • Making decisions when there’s no clear right answer

    Votes: 1 11.1%
  • How much the reef affects everyday household life

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • Nothing in particular, I felt well prepared

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 1 11.1%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new