The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[Reefkeepers Archive]

So since this is my first time diving with wrasse since becoming a nerd I have some observations. Thalassoma are everywhere and are just constantly roaming and following parrotfish. Bird wrasse are not far behind and the adults have a similar behavior as Thalassoma but the juveniles are very common and inhabit a small bit of reef alongside Pseudocheilinus wrasse. Both of which prefer inhabiting a small section rather then roaming. Finally hanging on the edge of the reef are the dragon and razor wrasse.

My final wrasse count for Hawaii in order of how common:

1. Thalassoma duperrey - thousands
2. Thalassoma ballieui - hundreds
3. Gomphosus varius - hundreds
4. Oxycheilinus unifasciatus- hundreds
5. Pseudocheilinus evanidus - tens
6. Iniistius baldwini - tens
7. Pseudocheilinus octotaenia - tens
8. Labroides pthirophagus - tens
9. Coris Gaimard - several
10. Thalassoma trilobatum - several
11. Novaculichthys taeniorius - several
12. Thalassoma purpeum - few
13. Stethojulis balteata - 3
14. Anampses chrysocephalus - 2
15. Anampses cuvier - 1

Dissapointed not to see:

1. Macropharyngodon jeoffroy
2. Coris venusta
3. Cirrhilabrus jordani

See any thalassoma hardwicke?

 

[Slocke]

See any thalassoma hardwicke?

Nope
They don’t live in Hawaii

 

[Crabby48]

 

[Slocke]

Coris atlantica?

 

[i cant think]

I’d say Venusta but there isn’t enough red (plus, unless it’s an old photo it’s unlikely).

Atlantica is close but it lacks the dominant stripes going down the body. Instead of across.


I want to say it’s probably Holygymnotus doliatus. The head shape seems wrong though.

 

[Crabby48]

Coris atlantica?

I’d say Venusta but there isn’t enough red (plus, unless it’s an old photo it’s unlikely).

Atlantica is close but it lacks the dominant stripes going down the body. Instead of across.


I want to say it’s probably Holygymnotus doliatus. The head shape seems wrong though.

It’s a new picture of fish that just came in. Not positive what wrasse and figured you would know what one.
Just wanted to share the love

I lied it’s an Annulatus. Shutman just received it

 

[i cant think]

I lied it’s an Annulatus. Shutman just received it

That was the second guess but thought Doliatus is more common so it would be more likely to have been that over annulatus.

 

[Slocke]

dang, thats quite the change. No wonder I can't gte the ID when the site I use shows the skinny and dark female.

 

[Tcook]

So since this is my first time diving with wrasse since becoming a nerd I have some observations. Thalassoma are everywhere and are just constantly roaming and following parrotfish. Bird wrasse are not far behind and the adults have a similar behavior as Thalassoma but the juveniles are very common and inhabit a small bit of reef alongside Pseudocheilinus wrasse. Both of which prefer inhabiting a small section rather then roaming. Finally hanging on the edge of the reef are the dragon and razor wrasse.

My final wrasse count for Hawaii in order of how common:

1. Thalassoma duperrey - thousands
2. Thalassoma ballieui - hundreds
3. Gomphosus varius - hundreds
4. Oxycheilinus unifasciatus- hundreds
5. Pseudocheilinus evanidus - tens
6. Iniistius baldwini - tens
7. Pseudocheilinus octotaenia - tens
8. Labroides pthirophagus - tens
9. Coris Gaimard - several
10. Thalassoma trilobatum - several
11. Novaculichthys taeniorius - several
12. Thalassoma purpeum - few
13. Stethojulis balteata - 3
14. Anampses chrysocephalus - 2
15. Anampses cuvier - 1

Dissapointed not to see:

1. Macropharyngodon jeoffroy
2. Coris venusta
3. Cirrhilabrus jordani

Interesting to see how uncommon the jordani was. Or were you not diving where they are common?

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Is there any cool crustacean that a wrasse won't kill? Want some cool inverts for my tank but my marginatus would rip small crabs and shrimps apart.

Beyond a slipper lobster I also kinda want an arrow crab, but I'm sure she'll pick that thing apart.

 

[Slocke]

Interesting to see how uncommon the jordani was. Or were you not diving where they are common?

I dived reefs, rubble fields, and sea grass up to 65ft depth. I was also surprised to not see any fairies or halichoeres wrasse. I expected those to be the most common.

 

[JaRRoT]

Halichoeres cosmetus

 

[blecki]

Sump six-line is back in the overflow. what the heck, sump six-line. Maybe he likes the sump? At any rate I can't do anything about it until he takes the next plunge. I've taken the socks off though - honestly not sure how he escaped the sock the first time but I can just leave them off until he gets down there. I guess I could let the other one into the tank now.

Haven't seen the christmas wrasse in 3 days. Saw him briefly the night after he went in and not since. Tonight will be night 3 since then if he doesn't come out. I know they can stay buried a long time but - I absolutely hate when I add a fish and it just vanishes and I never see it again.

 

[tbrown]

Sump six-line is back in the overflow. what the heck, sump six-line. Maybe he likes the sump? At any rate I can't do anything about it until he takes the next plunge. I've taken the socks off though - honestly not sure how he escaped the sock the first time but I can just leave them off until he gets down there. I guess I could let the other one into the tank now.

Haven't seen the christmas wrasse in 3 days. Saw him briefly the night after he went in and not since. Tonight will be night 3 since then if he doesn't come out. I know they can stay buried a long time but - I absolutely hate when I add a fish and it just vanishes and I never see it again.

Like I said, my Garnoti went MIA for 3 weeks and came out fatter than she went in.

 

[blecki]

I hope so. The tank is pretty hectic and full of lots boisterous fish. Plus the chromis are nesting which means they are chasing everything. I've been looking at night when the tank is quiet fully intending to feed it but haven't caught it out and about.

 

[tbrown]

Hey @Slocke @i cant think

She's darkening up. Is she starting to transition already???

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Saw the nicest (and biggest) Macropharyngodon moyeri male I've ever seen at my LFS today. Came in today, about 3" long. Unfortunately didn't get a picture of him.
He was very tempting, but I was there to pick up the new fish I've been waiting for months to finally come in stock (and he's already started eating nori in quarantine just a couple hours after introduction!). Plus, I'd rather let the leopard settle for a week or 2 before coming home.

 

[Slocke]

Saw the nicest (and biggest) Macropharyngodon moyeri male I've ever seen at my LFS today. Came in today, about 3" long. Unfortunately didn't get a picture of him.
He was very tempting, but I was there to pick up the new fish I've been waiting for months to finally come in stock (and he's already started eating nori in quarantine just a couple hours after introduction!). Plus, I'd rather let the leopard settle for a week or 2 before coming home.

Glad you got the mollie but you realize you can get one at any petsmart or petco right?
;)

 

[blecki]

She's out! ...and attacking her reflection so violently she's literally bouncing off the glass.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I am still struggling in narrowing down which 2 wrasse's I want to get for my 90 g peaceful community/ reef tank. I know I want to get a solon wrasse, but I want a second peaceful one, and am having difficulty narrowing that down. Any thoughts? I like the exquisite fairy wrasse, can they go together?