wrasse questions

[Cassian]

anyone know much about the Dusky wrasse? Are they reef safe? on LiveAquaria they are under the fish only wrasses, but it says reef safe, so i'm confused. How would this fish do in a 65 gallon tall? (3 foot length). I love the coloration of this fish, but I want to know if it will thrive in my tank before I think about purchasing.

 

[Jesterrace]

Dusky Wrasses are members of the Halichoeres family so they are technically "With Caution" as they generaly leave corals alone but go after snails hermits and some shrimp. If memory serves me correctly they tend to bully other smaller wrasses as they get older. If you want a bigger wrasse that is better behaved the Richmond's (H.Richmondi) is a better choice.

 

[Cassian]

Dusky Wrasses are members of the Halichoeres family so they are technically "With Caution" as they generaly leave corals alone but go after snails hermits and some shrimp. If memory serves me correctly they tend to bully other smaller wrasses as they get older. If you want a bigger wrasse that is better behaved the Richmond's (H.Richmondi) is a better choice.

thank you!

 

[evolved]

How would this fish do in a 65 gallon tall? (3 foot length).

Not well; it's a bigger species of Halichoeres (7"). Needs more room than that.

 

[Jesterrace]

Not well; it's a bigger species of Halichoeres (7"). Needs more room than that.

Whoops, missed that part about the 3 foot long tank. I agree that any Halichoeres is out for a tank of that length. A Lubbock's or Tri-Color Fairy Wrasse might work for that tank:

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+376&pcatid=376

 

[nereefpat]

Halichoeres is a large, catch-all genus. Some of them in that genus would work, in my opinion, but that species would be a bad choice. Something like H. claudia might be a possible substitute.

Live aquaria has all Halichoeres wrasses in their non-reef safe category, for reasons mentioned above.

 

[evolved]

Live aquaria has all Halichoeres wrasses in their non-reef safe category

Not all of them, and they've moved things back/forth over the years. But yes, most of them are currently in their non-reef safe category.

 

[nereefpat]

Not all of them, and they've moved things back/forth over the years. But yes, most of them are currently in their non-reef safe category.

You made me look, and you're right. H. margaritaceus is under the reef-safe ones.

Oddly enough....H. chrysus is the fish they've chosen to be the poster child for fish-only tanks....maybe the dragon would be a better choice for that...

 

[evolved]

Oddly enough....H. chrysus is the fish they've chosen to be the poster child for fish-only tanks....maybe the dragon would be a better choice for that...

LOL, agree.
chrysus used to be on the other side too. It could change again.