Melanarus Wrasse Reef Safe?

[Wandering Albatross]

Good evening all, I’m considering a melanarus wrasse pair for my reef, but I’m concerned it might eat my inverts.

X2 cleaner shrimps around 2”
X2 penderson cleaners 1”
X1 porcelain crab 1-1.5”
Various snails, .5” nerites, 2” turbos, .5” astereas, .25” nass, 1” nass

Are any of these small enough to get eaten/will they likely get eaten? Are they aggressive to other wrasse or anyone else?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@Slocke

 

[tbrown]

Mine eats any and all snails it can. Turbo lasted a day. My Nerites, Nassarius, Trochus, and Astreas are doing ok. Trochus have been breeding fast enough to stay ahead of the wrasses in my tank, but there's shells everywhere...

 

[tbrown]

The small Nassarius snails should be fine since they're usually under sand during the day and out nocturnally.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Mine eats any and all snails it can. Turbo lasted a day. My Nerites, Nassarius, Trochus, and Astreas are doing ok. Trochus have been breeding fast enough to stay ahead of the wrasses in my tank, but there's shells everywhere...

Shame, it’s a very pretty fish. But I need my snails. I’ll stick with a pair of fairies then, to get some red in the tank. Any reef safe suggestions for something green? Was thinking a green clown goby, the green banded goby doesn’t look as good.

 

[Slocke]

Shame, it’s a very pretty fish. But I need my snails. I’ll stick with a pair of fairies then, to get some red in the tank. Any reef safe suggestions for something green? Was thinking a green clown goby, the green banded goby doesn’t look as good.

Richmond’s wrasse? I haven’t had the same issues as thrown with melanurus but they are on the more aggressive side of Halichoeres wrasse.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Richmond’s wrasse? I haven’t had the same issues as thrown with melanurus but they are on the more aggressive side of Halichoeres wrasse.

Is that aggression towards each other, other wrasse, or all other fish?

 

[Slocke]

Is that aggression towards each other, other wrasse, or all other fish?

Generally closely related species. So their own being the worse, then similar Halichoeres, then other Hali’s, etc. But I've not had the aggression go toward fairy wrasse or any other type of fish.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Generally closely related species. So their own being the worse, then similar Halichoeres, then other Hali’s, etc. But I've not had the aggression go toward fairy wrasse or any other type of fish.

Wrasse-wise it'd be a pair of ruby finned fairies and a pair of ornates. Next closest thing to the wrasse shape in this tank are the orchids. Would these be okay?

 

[Tcook]

I have a mild mannered Halichoeres, the babi, and she has dug every nassarius out of the sand no matter how deep. Also, there are no “pairs” of cirrhilabrus wrasses. They exist in large harems. In tanks they both will turn male and fight. Maybe someone here can post long term peaceful success with two male cirrhilabrus of the same species?

 

[Slocke]

Wrasse-wise it'd be a pair of ruby finned fairies and a pair of ornates. Next closest thing to the wrasse shape in this tank are the orchids. Would these be okay?

Yeah I agree with @Tcook. Pairs don’t work usually. Go with different species

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Would flame angels be better than the ruby fairy wrasse? I know it's a gamble with other angels, but are they aggressive to smaller tankmates? Or tangs? No one else in the tank would be their shape, and the tang being closest would still be a way different color/pattern.

 

[Slocke]

Would flame angels be better than the ruby fairy wrasse? I know it's a gamble with other angels, but are they aggressive to smaller tankmates? Or tangs? No one else in the tank would be their shape, and the tang being closest would still be a way different color/pattern.

I would say it’s about par with aggression but you have the issue of coral munching

 

[Tcook]

Would flame angels be better than the ruby fairy wrasse? I know it's a gamble with other angels, but are they aggressive to smaller tankmates? Or tangs? No one else in the tank would be their shape, and the tang being closest would still be a way different color/pattern.

You can do several wrasses no problem from the list @Slocke posted. Even a melanurus and put that in last. Flame angels could be aggressive. Even cherubs towards the docile dartfish. You have s good sized tank and adding a flame last could work. You can also consider a bellus or watanabi that do well.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I would say it’s about par with aggression but you have the issue of coral munching

A risk I'm willing to take considering my current coral issues. Much as I want corals, I'm seriously contemplating tabling all but the hardiest softies for the time being. At least until I can narrow down what is causing the problems. More or less flow is no longer helping, increasing par that was low is not helping, nor is extra feeding. Alk is the most unstable param lately, but that might be the test kit misreading it, and it's still in the 7.8-9 range.

 

[Tcook]

A risk I'm willing to take considering my current coral issues. Much as I want corals, I'm seriously contemplating tabling all but the hardiest softies for the time being. At least until I can narrow down what is causing the problems. More or less flow is no longer helping, increasing par that was low is not helping, nor is extra feeding. Alk is the most unstable param lately, but that might be the test kit misreading it, and it's still in the 7.8-9 range.

Don’t give up on corals. What are your parameters and what test kits do you use? I presume you use rodi and have an ato.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

You can do several wrasses no problem from the list @Slocke posted. Even a melanurus and put that in last. Flame angels could be aggressive. Even cherubs towards the docile dartfish. You have s good sized tank and adding a flame last could work. You can also consider a bellus or watanabi that do well.

Needed something red in the tank. I like the mel but I don't want him eating my shrimps

 

[Tcook]

Needed something red in the tank. I like the mel but I don't want him eating my shrimps

Carpenters, magma, hooded flame to name a few.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Mines a model citizen. Great fish and tons of personality, fondly named Old Man.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Don’t give up on corals. What are your parameters and what test kits do you use? I presume you use rodi and have an ato.

I currently top off by hand daily, keeps me on top of it. Most of my kits are red sea, cal and mag are sailfert because that's what was available at the time.

Last check
Nitrate 2-5
Phos .04
PH 7.8
Alk 8ish (average between the kits)
temp 78.1
cal 450
mag 1380
sal 1.025