The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[jkcoral]

Pitho crabs are awesome in general. Pitho + wrasse is too funny.

Yeah, these crabs are awesome. Never had them before but got these guys delivered 2 weeks ago. They look really neat and are probably the best algae eating crab I’ve ever had in 20 years. They do lots of funny stuff, too. First thing they did when I added them to the tank was meet up in the middle, size each other up, and have a little crab battle before going their separate ways haha

Meeting up 5 minutes after getting in the tank:

Crab battle shortly after:

 

[jeremyg]

I was thinking of adding a few wrasse to my tank (i have none since my leopard passed). Any issues with these 3 in one 170G tank?

Dusky Margined Wrasse
Melanurus Wrasse
Fine Spotted Fairy Wrasse

 

[i cant think]

I was thinking of adding a few wrasse to my tank (i have none since my leopard passed). Any issues with these 3 in one 170G tank?

Dusky Margined Wrasse
Melanurus Wrasse
Fine Spotted Fairy Wrasse

There shouldn’t be any issues except… get a few Leopards, Tamarins, Flashers! 3 is a low number for a 6’-7’ tank

 

[jeremyg]

There shouldn’t be any issues except… get a few Leopards, Tamarins, Flashers! 3 is a low number for a 6’-7’ tank

Oh, well, maybe I should clarify. I have a 170 Gallon Fish-Only tank (60"L x 20"W x 30"H) with the following fish:

• Queen Angel
• King Angel
• Emperor Angel (Juvenile)
• Blue Hippo Tang (x2)
• Powder Brown Tang
• Clownfish (x3)
• Coral Beauty
• Lemonpeel Angel
• Picasso Triggerfish
• Oxina Cardinalfish
• Flame Hawkfish
• Diamond Goby

I was thinking of adding a few:

1. Dusky Margined Wrasse
2. Fine Spotted Fairy Wrasse
3. Melanurus Wrasse
4. Dot Dash Butterflyfish
5. Pearlscale Butterflyfish
6. 3-5 Azure Damselfish

Any incompatibilities to look out for with these new additions? How many damsels make sense to keep together? I don't have rockwork, but have several caves and artificial plants as decorations that the fish use to hide in.

 

[Slocke]

My exquisite was displaying and its really pretty but I can't get a good photo.

Bonus

 

[Tcook]

Oh, well, maybe I should clarify. I have a 170 Gallon Fish-Only tank (60"L x 20"W x 30"H) with the following fish:

• Queen Angel
• King Angel
• Emperor Angel (Juvenile)
• Blue Hippo Tang (x2)
• Powder Brown Tang
• Clownfish (x3)
• Coral Beauty
• Lemonpeel Angel
• Picasso Triggerfish
• Oxina Cardinalfish
• Flame Hawkfish
• Diamond Goby

I was thinking of adding a few:

1. Dusky Margined Wrasse
2. Fine Spotted Fairy Wrasse
3. Melanurus Wrasse
4. Dot Dash Butterflyfish
5. Pearlscale Butterflyfish
6. 3-5 Azure Damselfish

Any incompatibilities to look out for with these new additions? How many damsels make sense to keep together? I don't have rockwork, but have several caves and artificial plants as decorations that the fish use to hide in.

Seems like a busy slightly aggressive tank with little hiding spaces for wrasses imo. Maybe the melanurus is fine. Comment from @i cant think @Slocke @Petcrazyson

 

[Slocke]

Oh, well, maybe I should clarify. I have a 170 Gallon Fish-Only tank (60"L x 20"W x 30"H) with the following fish:

• Queen Angel
• King Angel
• Emperor Angel (Juvenile)
• Blue Hippo Tang (x2)
• Powder Brown Tang
• Clownfish (x3)
• Coral Beauty
• Lemonpeel Angel
• Picasso Triggerfish
• Oxina Cardinalfish
• Flame Hawkfish
• Diamond Goby

I was thinking of adding a few:

1. Dusky Margined Wrasse
2. Fine Spotted Fairy Wrasse
3. Melanurus Wrasse
4. Dot Dash Butterflyfish
5. Pearlscale Butterflyfish
6. 3-5 Azure Damselfish

Any incompatibilities to look out for with these new additions? How many damsels make sense to keep together? I don't have rockwork, but have several caves and artificial plants as decorations that the fish use to hide in.

Yeah I'd consider getting some of the tougher wrasse though those may all do fine if you get larger ones as they are all sizeable. But since you have a FOWLR you could get a different wrasse like a seagrass wrasse which are very fun or a red coris wrasse.

 

[i cant think]

Well, this is interesting, the LFS I work at is getting in both supermale Hemitaeniatus Flashers and also Vivienne’s Leopards, now I’m with the option of sticking with the Choati or grabbing a Vivienne. It seems Choati is more common among wrasse collectors and Vivienne stays a similar size to Choati.
So, which do you guys think I should go for?

 

[Tcook]

Well, this is interesting, the LFS I work at is getting in both supermale Hemitaeniatus Flashers and also Vivienne’s Leopards, now I’m with the option of sticking with the Choati or grabbing a Vivienne. It seems Choati is more common among wrasse collectors and Vivienne stays a similar size to Choati.
So, which do you guys think I should go for?

Both. Definitely grab the vivien if you have the chance.

 

[i cant think]

Both. Definitely grab the vivien if you have the chance.

I’ll see how they are when they come in, if they’re young females or juveniles I may grab a vivienne and then wait for a choati further down the line (Hopefully by then my Bipartitus will be in the 4’ tank).

 

[C4ctus99]

Oh, well, maybe I should clarify. I have a 170 Gallon Fish-Only tank (60"L x 20"W x 30"H) with the following fish:

• Queen Angel
• King Angel
• Emperor Angel (Juvenile)
• Blue Hippo Tang (x2)
• Powder Brown Tang
• Clownfish (x3)
• Coral Beauty
• Lemonpeel Angel
• Picasso Triggerfish
• Oxina Cardinalfish
• Flame Hawkfish
• Diamond Goby

I was thinking of adding a few:

1. Dusky Margined Wrasse
2. Fine Spotted Fairy Wrasse
3. Melanurus Wrasse
4. Dot Dash Butterflyfish
5. Pearlscale Butterflyfish
6. 3-5 Azure Damselfish

Any incompatibilities to look out for with these new additions? How many damsels make sense to keep together? I don't have rockwork, but have several caves and artificial plants as decorations that the fish use to hide in.

Pics?

 

[OutColdCRNA]

Received my latest order from dr. Reef! Super happy with the three wrasses I ordered. Adorned, lubock’s, Melanarus. I asked for the largest he could supply and he didn’t disappoint. The Melanarus is 4-5 inches.

Question on coloration. The Melanarus being as large as is it has the striped coloration on his face but the body is dark blue. Can’t seem to find any pictures similar and he is so dang fast I can’t get a picture. Has been in the tank for a little over a week. Will the body striped color develop after settles into the tank more or is the dark blue coloration due to it being a bigger and possibly older specimen?

 

[jeremyg]

Yeah I'd consider getting some of the tougher wrasse though those may all do fine if you get larger ones as they are all sizeable. But since you have a FOWLR you could get a different wrasse like a seagrass wrasse which are very fun or a red coris wrasse.

Which are "tougher" wrasse to consider?

So Maybe:

• Melanurus Wrasse
• Red Coris Wrasse (dr reef has Juvi)
• something else?

Pics?

Here's one from a few months ago. I since added 2 caves so there are now 4 separate caves, although the diamond goby claimed one and filled it top to bottom with sand. There is a fairly deep layer of sand.

 

[RDtrack]

So I didn't know these were getting so common, but I was about to score this guy from Joel Phillips. Another one of my list.

Here is a little video of him. Gets braver everyday.

PS. If your looking for wrasses, there is a reason Joel is called the Wrasse King

 

[Slocke]

Which are "tougher" wrasse to consider?

So Maybe:

• Melanurus Wrasse
• Red Coris Wrasse (dr reef has Juvi)
• something else?

Here's one from a few months ago. I since added 2 caves so there are now 4 separate caves, although the diamond goby claimed one and filled it top to bottom with sand. There is a fairly deep layer of sand.

So really any halichoeres but I'd get one at least 3". A smaller Coris or Thalassoma like the red coris, Coris gaimard, the bluehead or the pinkface wrasse, T bisfaciatum and T quinquevittatum. Also a harlequin tusk or a sea grass and maybe even a dragon wrasse though that one may be too aggressive.

 

[Slocke]

Received my latest order from dr. Reef! Super happy with the three wrasses I ordered. Adorned, lubock’s, Melanarus. I asked for the largest he could supply and he didn’t disappoint. The Melanarus is 4-5 inches.

Question on coloration. The Melanarus being as large as is it has the striped coloration on his face but the body is dark blue. Can’t seem to find any pictures similar and he is so dang fast I can’t get a picture. Has been in the tank for a little over a week. Will the body striped color develop after settles into the tank more or is the dark blue coloration due to it being a bigger and possibly older specimen?

I wouldn't know but Dr Reef does send the wrong fish sometimes. I think we'd need a picture.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I wouldn't know but Dr Reef does send the wrong fish sometimes. I think we'd need a picture.

Well looks like I did in fact receive the wrong wrasse. Pictures look exactly like a lunare as opposed to a Melanarus that I ordered. Now the question lies in that I’m pretty sure the Lunare would get to large for my 4’ 65 gallon tank. Stock with the lunare is a pair of clowns, exquisite wrasse, lubbocks and adorned. Not sure whether this lunare would be compatible with my tank long term.

 

[Tcook]

So I didn't know these were getting so common, but I was about to score this guy from Joel Phillips. Another one of my list.

Here is a little video of him. Gets braver everyday.

PS. If your looking for wrasses, there is a reason Joel is called the Wrasse King

Can’t see the video. Is it a twisti or tamarin?

 

[Slocke]

Well looks like I did in fact receive the wrong wrasse. Pictures look exactly like a lunare as opposed to a Melanarus that I ordered. Now the question lies in that I’m pretty sure the Lunare would get to large for my 4’ 65 gallon tank. Stock with the lunare is a pair of clowns, exquisite wrasse, lubbocks and adorned. Not sure whether this lunare would be compatible with my tank long term.

Wow
That’s not even close! Second time Dr reef has done that recently and last time I believe he got an earmuff mixed up with a kuiteri leopard wrasse.

Yeah that’s a big and aggressive wrasse. I’d ask for a refund and try and rehome at an LFS or other reefer.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

Wow
That’s not even close! Second time Dr reef has done that recently and last time I believe he got an earmuff mixed up with a kuiteri leopard wrasse.

Yeah that’s a big and aggressive wrasse. I’d ask for a refund and try and rehome at an LFS or other reefer.

Best I can do picture wise. In the bucket upon arrival. Note the tail fins. I’m an idiot for letting it go a week and not thinking about him sending the wrong fish. Was more concerned with the adorned that I wanted so badly. Crazy part is, he doesn’t even sell the lunare on his website