Melanurus Wrasse swimming into my LTA unharmed?!

Reef Craver16 · Mar 23, 2014

Ok I just moved my huge Green Long tentacle anemone into my 55g, and I noticed today that my melanurus wrasses keeps going into it! I'm nervous he is going to drop his life expectancy real quick. It is weird because the tentacles aren't being stimulated at all, he goes in I think picks at w/e is in the nems mouth and leaves.. I'm guessing his scales are protecting him but I feel like he will be food one day. Anyone have this happen before or know anything about it?

Reef Craver16 · Mar 23, 2014

guidedbyechoes · Mar 23, 2014

I think he might be playing a very dangerous game.

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2014

Healthy fish have a slime coat that protects them from the stings of some anemones.
In fact juveniles of some species of wrasse seek protection in the tentacles of an anemone. Not melanurus that I know of, but of some near relatives.

Reef Craver16 · Mar 23, 2014

guidedbyechoes said:
I think he might be playing a very dangerous game.

yes hopefully he stops, I don't wan to lose him..

Reef Craver16 · Mar 23, 2014

eatbreakfast said:
Healthy fish have a slime coat that protects them from the stings of some anemones.
In fact juveniles of some species of wrasse seek protection in the tentacles of an anemone. Not melanurus that I know of, but of some near relatives.

That's good to know, just nervous if melanurus sp. aren't ones wholook for nems. Also he is a good 3.5-4'' long, is it still juvenile?

KSzegi · Mar 23, 2014

If it makes you feel any better .... I had a male melanurus that did the same thing with my huge LTA ..... he made me nervous for at least 6 months. Had a tailspot blenny that was considerably smaller do the same thing. I ended up getting rid of the wrasse for other reasons (his mate was eating my clams) .... and just recently had to re-home the LTA ..... the blenny now plays with fire in my BTA... go figure.

Longnose Hawkfish · Mar 23, 2014

I would be scared.

Connie · Mar 23, 2014

Get a clownfish and it won't let other fish near it.

guidedbyechoes · Mar 23, 2014

Connie said:
Get a clownfish and it won't let other fish near it.

or you. hahaha

Reef Craver16 · Mar 23, 2014

KSzegi said:
If it makes you feel any better .... I had a male melanurus that did the same thing with my huge LTA ..... he made me nervous for at least 6 months. Had a tailspot blenny that was considerably smaller do the same thing. I ended up getting rid of the wrasse for other reasons (his mate was eating my clams) .... and just recently had to re-home the LTA ..... the blenny now plays with fire in my BTA... go figure.

Ok well it seems he made it, I will just hve to wait an hope he breaks this habit.. lol thanks for response.

Connie said:
Get a clownfish and it won't let other fish near it.

I have 2 ocellaris clowns but thy are tank bred and don't know to go in it.. I do have a clarkii in another tank and he hosts any and everything, which im debating on adding. But he is a territorial SOB. gets real nasty even to me. I wonder if it will be okay to mix the 3 clowns..

Trex · Mar 23, 2014

First, I don't believe that is an M. doreensis (( LTA )), but is an E. quadricolor (( BTA )) instead.

As for added the clarkii (( or any 3rd clown )), IMO/E, I see one thing happening --- you having a Clarkii and 2 dead clowns.

Rutrag · Mar 25, 2014

Trex said:
First, I don't believe that is an M. doreensis (( LTA )), but is an E. quadricolor (( BTA )) instead.

As for added the clarkii (( or any 3rd clown )), IMO/E, I see one thing happening --- you having a Clarkii and 2 dead clowns.

Agreed on both counts. The tentacles look too close to be an LTA.

More than a pair of clowns in all but the largest tanks never seems to end well.

jstec · Mar 26, 2014

I had a six line do the same thing and then my sulfur damsel tried it and he became lunch

Marshall O · Mar 26, 2014

Tape a picture of clowns being hosted by a nem on the side of your tank closest to the nem (ideally the same clowns with the same nem that you have). This has worked for many people believe it or not.

Reef Craver16 · Mar 26, 2014

Trex said:
First, I don't believe that is an M. doreensis (( LTA )), but is an E. quadricolor (( BTA )) instead.

As for added the clarkii (( or any 3rd clown )), IMO/E, I see one thing happening --- you having a Clarkii and 2 dead clowns.

Here's some more pics of the nem, and tell me.. I am only going with what the LFS told me, if so awesome deal on it for $30 that size and color.

Marshall O said:
Tape a picture of clowns being hosted by a nem on the side of your tank closest to the nem (ideally the same clowns with the same nem that you have). This has worked for many people believe it or not.

Lol I've heard of this method, i'll give it a shot and let you know how it works.