The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[Coleo3]

Hi everyone,

I'm a neurosciences PhD student in France studying cognition in both birds and fish. So far we have been working with cichlids, hoping to find complex behaviors similar to what has been found in certain birds (like corvids and parrots), but we haven't had any luck. So we're on the lookout for better model species of fish.

Given that certain species of wrasse use "pseudo-tools" (anvils), and as this could be a sign of advanced cognitive abilities, we have been thinking about using wrasse for our behavioral studies.
In particular, we are interested in the Thalassoma and Choerodon genus, with a preference for Choerodon.

Do any of you have experience maintaining Choerodons, and if so, do you have any tips?

Do you find them to be "intelligent" fish? Have you observed interesting behaviors, like the manipulation of objects present in their tanks? Perhaps even the use of rocks in their tanks as anvils to crush food pellets or shells? Are they stressed fish? We need to be able to interact with them so if they are easily stressed that could be an issue.

Part of the experiments we'd like to try are anvil-choice: can the context around a rock influence their choice of anvil (for instance, the presence of shell debris around a rock could indicate that it's a good anvil and thus increase the probability of it being chosen as an anvil over a similar rock), and we'd also like to try "true tool use", to see if they can manipulate an object directly in order to access a food reward.

Sorry for the long post; I've had a great time browsing the pictures posted in this thread! :)

 

[LegendaryCG]

Can anyone properly identify my yellow wrasse? Not sure if it’s a coris or a banana?

 

[DarkReefer]

Gonna say Coris as spots are on the body not the dorsals. (someone with more experience correct me if I'm wrong!)

 

[Tcook]

Nice wrasse, but hold on, you're not going to sneak those ventralis in the background without a word. How long have you had them? Are they timid during feeding time?

 

[SaltyT]

Can anyone properly identify my yellow wrasse? Not sure if it’s a coris or a banana?

It’s bodianus bimaculatus, also called two spot or twin spot hogfish.

 

[LegendaryCG]

It’s bodianus bimaculatus, also called two spot or twin spot hogfish.

Errr.. really?

 

[Crabby48]

Almost caught speedy

 

[Crabby48]

Errr.. really?

I’m going to agree. The body shape wasn’t wrasse like to me. I googled two spot hogfish and agree

 

[LegendaryCG]

It’s bodianus bimaculatus, also called two spot or twin spot hogfish.

Wow! It looks like your absolutely right. My LFS (which I don’t put much faith in) sold me it as a coris.

 

[SaltyT]

Wow! It looks like your absolutely right. My LFS (which I don’t put much faith in) sold me it as a coris.

On the up side it doesn’t get that large for a hogfish, on the down side it’s likely to start bulling your other wrasses

 

[Crabby48]

Wow! It looks like your absolutely right. My LFS (which I don’t put much faith in) sold me it as a coris.

They may have order it as a coris and received the hogfish instead. Most wont know any better

 

[LegendaryCG]

So far it’s a great addition, literally hunts pests all day. It roams the tank staring at rocks and eats any pods it finds.

 

[LegendaryCG]

I’m going to agree. The body shape wasn’t wrasse like to me. I googled two spot hogfish and agree

Well they are wrasses but totally different ones. Im in shock honestly

 

[qhduong]

My Lineatus!

 

[Devaji]

after way to long the house reno its done and the new tank is cycling! woot woot

its going to be a wrasse dominate system i would love some thoughts on my stocking list and ideas that I have not thought of.

PS no LFS with in 150 miles each way so its mail order for me. ;(


red sea 650l ( 170 gal total system ) Peninsula stocking list:
tank has 1.5" of sand bed. NSA stylr aquascape with 4 island with lots of arches and swim thoroughs and hiding places.

my goal is a community of peaceful to semi peaceful fish with lots of color and movement.
as far as coeals goes it will be a mix reef but more heavy on the LPS then softies then a few SPS.



Halichoeres:

H. melanurus “Melanurus Wrasse”

H. iridis “Radiant Wrasse” - not sure on this one.

H. chrysus “yellow wrasse”

H. claudia “Christmas Wrasse”

H. cosmetus “ adorned wrasse”

H. leucurus “ grey head wrasse”



Macropharyngodon:

M. bipartitus “Blue Star Leopard Wrasse”

M. ornatus “Ornate Leopard Wrasse”

would love other options on easy to care for leopard :)

Paracheilinus:

P. mccoskeri “McCosker’s Flasher”

P. cyaneus “Blue Flasher”: colorful male if I can find one
or
Paracheilinus carpenteri) Carpenter wrasse




Cirrhilabrus:

each from a different complex:

C. exquisitus “Exquisite Fairy” -male

C. lubbocki “tri colore fairy”- Male

C. rubrimarginatus- red/pink Margin ferry wrasse -male

C. cyanopleura- blue head ferry wrasse

possibly saving room for a M/F pair of rhomboialis pair if I can’t find a reasonable price.

open to other fairy wrasses that are easy on the wallet.

tangs: need some algae eaters.

Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) not sure I can find one anymore that’s not $500+ one of my all time fav. fish


other fish:
midas blenny
royal gramma
pyramid butterfly?

would love you thoughts this, the list is just in the idea stage and no doubt will be adjusted to what I can find.

 

[Devaji]

^ anyone have any thoughts on the above wrasse list?

 

[canadianeh]

@evolved and everyone else, I am getting rid of my melanarus wrasse since he keeps killing my inverts. And also, I am going to put some berghia nudibranch in the tank to battle aiptasia problem.

What's the other alternative that invert and reef safe, and also eat pest?

 

[flamez1]

^ anyone have any thoughts on the above wrasse list?

I see no issues with the wrasse list just use acclimation box when adding them to your tank and add leopards wrasse last when you tank is matured

 

[SaltyT]

after way to long the house reno its done and the new tank is cycling! woot woot

its going to be a wrasse dominate system i would love some thoughts on my stocking list and ideas that I have not thought of.

PS no LFS with in 150 miles each way so its mail order for me. ;(


red sea 650l ( 170 gal total system ) Peninsula stocking list:
tank has 1.5" of sand bed. NSA stylr aquascape with 4 island with lots of arches and swim thoroughs and hiding places.

my goal is a community of peaceful to semi peaceful fish with lots of color and movement.
as far as coeals goes it will be a mix reef but more heavy on the LPS then softies then a few SPS.



Halichoeres:

H. melanurus “Melanurus Wrasse”

H. iridis “Radiant Wrasse” - not sure on this one.

H. chrysus “yellow wrasse”

H. claudia “Christmas Wrasse”

H. cosmetus “ adorned wrasse”

H. leucurus “ grey head wrasse”



Macropharyngodon:

M. bipartitus “Blue Star Leopard Wrasse”

M. ornatus “Ornate Leopard Wrasse”

would love other options on easy to care for leopard :)

Paracheilinus:

P. mccoskeri “McCosker’s Flasher”

P. cyaneus “Blue Flasher”: colorful male if I can find one
or
Paracheilinus carpenteri) Carpenter wrasse




Cirrhilabrus:

each from a different complex:

C. exquisitus “Exquisite Fairy” -male

C. lubbocki “tri colore fairy”- Male

C. rubrimarginatus- red/pink Margin ferry wrasse -male

C. cyanopleura- blue head ferry wrasse

possibly saving room for a M/F pair of rhomboialis pair if I can’t find a reasonable price.

open to other fairy wrasses that are easy on the wallet.

tangs: need some algae eaters.

Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) not sure I can find one anymore that’s not $500+ one of my all time fav. fish


other fish:
midas blenny
royal gramma
pyramid butterfly?

would love you thoughts this, the list is just in the idea stage and no doubt will be adjusted to what I can find.

That's a nice wrasse list you've put together. If you can find H. leucurus post some pics for us! I don't get to see that one often. Having both a Mel and a Greyhead will be hard on your CUC as they mature. I would recommend getting your fairies in the same order you have them listed. An acclimation box will be a big help as you stock your tank. Another leopard you could look into that's usually easier to acclimate to tank life is M. moyeri.

 

[Crabby48]

@evolved and everyone else, I am getting rid of my melanarus wrasse since he keeps killing my inverts. And also, I am going to put some berghia nudibranch in the tank to battle aiptasia problem.

What's the other alternative that invert and reef safe, and also eat pest?

Irdis, radiant would be my choice but others will have more options