The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[dragon99]

Added a royal gramma and miller blenny not too long ago. They are both fairly skiddish, but maybe.

 

[OrionN]

How can anybody not love this Diamond Tail Flasher? He is not anywhere near fully develop yet, still he is a beauty. These are the changes over the last 2 months from 2/16 to 4/16/2020

2/16/2020

4/16/2020

 

[MIKE NY]

@OrionN he’s a beauty..wish mine lived longer.
Finally my Rhomboid starting to change..
3/19

3/20

and one of my newest additions to the DT from my grow out tank...

 

[OrionN]

@MIKE NY,
Your wrasses are very beautiful.
I hope my Diamond Tail won't be light a flash of brightness then fade quickly. Things that mature quickly tend to each old age quickly too.

 

[OrionN]

Close up picture of my Eightline Flasher

 

[VAReefDog]

Quick question for the wrasse experts.
Current tank- 120 gal display with 40 gal sump/refugium. Established and doing well.
Current stocking-- pair of Perc clowns (small), Yellow watchman goby, Orange spot Goby, pair of purple Firefish, Midas blenny, Blue-green chromis, Royal Gramma, small Yellow-eyed Kole Tang. All inhabitants are healthy and getting along well. I have a red skunk cleaner shrimp and some hermits in the tank for inverts.

I am having an overgrowth/outbreak of the harmless brown flatworms and was thinking of adding a wrasse for this (and as a future pest control solution). I had read the Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) would be a good choice. The other wrasse I really like would be an Exquisite Fairy Wrasse- (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)- but not sure if they eat flatworms?

The only other fish I want to add is a mandarin green dragonet down the road.

What do you think-- given current stock list (and wanting to add a mandarin dragonet as well later)-- which one would be better pest control and get along well with rest of my tank-mates?
Thank you.

 

[evolved]

What do you think-- given current stock list (and wanting to add a mandarin dragonet as well later)-- which one would be better pest control and get along well with rest of my tank-mates?
Thank you.

Unfortunately, there isn't one. Any genus which will target those flatworms (Cirrhilabrus will not) will also target pods, hence out-competing a mandarin.

 

[sfairtx]

Agree. Listen to the experts like evolved ^ above. Randomly I too have a 120 DT. I have all three of the fish you are speaking about. Melanurus wrasse is one of my favorite fish and is a beast of a hunter for pests (Unfortunately pods are included in that category). Make sure you just keep your sump full of pods and your future mandarin will be fine.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

Quick question for the wrasse experts.
Current tank- 120 gal display with 40 gal sump/refugium. Established and doing well.
Current stocking-- pair of Perc clowns (small), Yellow watchman goby, Orange spot Goby, pair of purple Firefish, Midas blenny, Blue-green chromis, Royal Gramma, small Yellow-eyed Kole Tang. All inhabitants are healthy and getting along well. I have a red skunk cleaner shrimp and some hermits in the tank for inverts.

I am having an overgrowth/outbreak of the harmless brown flatworms and was thinking of adding a wrasse for this (and as a future pest control solution). I had read the Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) would be a good choice. The other wrasse I really like would be an Exquisite Fairy Wrasse- (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)- but not sure if they eat flatworms?

The only other fish I want to add is a mandarin green dragonet down the road.

What do you think-- given current stock list (and wanting to add a mandarin dragonet as well later)-- which one would be better pest control and get along well with rest of my tank-mates?
Thank you.

Supposedly chrysiptera cf. Springeri will eat those flatworms and mine never seem to actively graze the rockwork for pods, which may work as an alternative.
Theres also those blue velvet nudibranchs which eat only flatworms.

 

[VAReefDog]

Thank you. I will have to rethink my plans.

 

[Jstn]

saw my potters sleeping close to the front of the tank so i grabbed a few photos, my favorite wrasse by far, and he is always first in line for mysis

 

[Drew Hitt]

A few of my crew
Also have a neon and a marbled or checkerboard (not sure maybe that isn’t the same fish)
Sorry not much of a photographer

 

[Zionas]

Does anyone have experience with the Pacific Peppermint Hogfish? Is it a very aggressive species?

Also..... what have you found to be a “jump proof” method to keep Wrasses in the tank? My tank will not be using mesh but an acrylic lid instead.

 

[saltyhog]

Does anyone have experience with the Pacific Peppermint Hogfish? Is it a very aggressive species?

Also..... what have you found to be a “jump proof” method to keep Wrasses in the tank? My tank will not be using mesh but an acrylic lid instead.

I don't have any experience with that hogfish but I'm interested to hear the responses.

There really isn't any fool proof method to 100% keep wrasses from jumping. They are prolific jumpers. A tight lid with no openings is your best defense. I would highly recommend avoiding the solid acrylic lid and going with a 1/4 or 1/8" mesh lid. Wrasses frequently get spinal injuries from their jumping attempts when encountering solid surfaces. With a mesh cover the chance of injury is extremely low IME. Artfully Acrylic and Octo Aquatics as well as some others offer very attractive versions.

That said, be careful when the tops are off for maintenance or feeding. No too long ago my prized P. attenuatus jumped during a feeding frenzy and landed in a place I couldn't get to in time to save him!

 

[Zionas]

My lid will be regular acrylic.

 

[Zionas]

Your last photo is the one I want.

 

[Drew Hitt]

Mine is a model citizen not aggressive just curious, eats well and very healthy. I use glass lids not sure if that is the best but I have never had an injury due to jumping and hitting it. I’m not saying it can’t or doesn’t I just never have experienced that.

 

[Zionas]

Taking maximum precautions against jumping. I’m eyeing the Red Striped Hogfish. Not sure how well it’ll get along with its tankmates though.

-YT or a Bristletooth Tang

-Comet

-One Spot Foxface

-2 Ocellaris Clowns

-2 Flame Hawks

-3 PJs


Heard Bodianus can be bullies but hope it won’t be too bad if I add it as my last fish.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

Handsome fellow

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

Got a semi focussed photo of my pencil wrasse lol. Which wasnt very easy... he hates cameras.