Yellowtail Tamarin Wrasse (Anampses meleagrides)

[Daniel@R2R]

I'm thinking about adding one of these to my 180 reef. He will be joining a tank that will have:

2 - Halichoeres melanurus wrasses (mated pair) - already established
3 - Paracheilinus wrasses (carpenteri, mccoskeri, and one other that I'm still deciding on) - will be added at same time as Anampses meleagrides
2 - Black Ice clownfish - already established
1 - green mandarin goby - already established
1 - matted filefish - already established
1 - yellow clown goby - already established
1 - starry blenny - will be added at same time as Anampses meleagrides
1 - Yellow Candy Hog Fish - will be added at same time as Anampses meleagrides

​Thoughts?

 

[MIKE NY]

You may have a problem with the Melanurus...they are hit or miss as far as bulling. I removed mine...

 

[Daniel@R2R]

You may have a problem with the Melanurus...they are hit or miss as far as bulling. I removed mine...

Thanks. Hopefully they'll do ok. They've done good with the carpenter's flasher wrasse. I'm going to use an acclimation box for a few days and going to introduce 3 new wrasses at the same time.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would be reluctant about the hogfish. They can be fine tankmates as juveniles, but once they start to mature, I have found them to be a bit meaner than the wrasses you currently, or plan on soon having.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I would be reluctant about the hogfish. They can be fine tankmates as juveniles, but once they start to mature, I have found them to be a bit meaner than the wrasses you currently, or plan on soon having.

Oops...He's already been ordered. Hopefully he'll do airtight. I know that species is the smallest of the hogfish, so maybe I'll get lucky. If not, I'll have to move him to another tank.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

Filefish in a reef doesn't sound like a good idea

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Filefish in a reef doesn't sound like a good idea

He's been there for months. I bought him to take care of aiptasia...he hasn't touched them or corals...He's harmless...useless...but harmless...

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

I just personally wouldn't trust it kind of like the dwarf and pygmy angels or blue throat triggers eating coral and inverts are in their DNA so yes they might behalf for a while but eventually their natural instincts will kick in and take over. I had a Flame Angel in a mixed reef for over six months and he was doing great never even looked at my corals. Then I woke up one day and all my sps tips were dead and 90 percent of my LPS was crushed in just one night! Good luck

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I just personally wouldn't trust it kind of like the dwarf and pygmy angels or blue throat triggers eating coral and inverts are in their DNA so yes they might behalf for a while but eventually their natural instincts will kick in and take over. I had a Flame Angel in a mixed reef for over six months and he was doing great never even looked at my corals. Then I woke up one day and all my sps tips were dead and 90 percent of my LPS was crushed in just one night! Good luck

Thanks for the tip. I haven't decided whether I'll be keeping him or not really. LOL Since he didn't do his job, I just haven't been able to decide what to do with him. I've thought about taking him to the lfs, but I know I wouldn't get credit for him and like I said, so far he hasn't touched anything... *fingers crossed*

 

[evolved]

You may have a problem with the Melanurus...they are hit or miss as far as bulling. I removed mine...

+1; it could be an issue. Just something to watch for.

I would be reluctant about the hogfish. They can be fine tankmates as juveniles, but once they start to mature, I have found them to be a bit meaner than the wrasses you currently, or plan on soon having.

And +1 here.

 

[hybridazn]

He's been there for months. I bought him to take care of aiptasia...he hasn't touched them or corals...He's harmless...useless...but harmless...

I'm guessing he has been eating his fill of other foods. When I had one I put him in my sump and rotated my rockwork out of the display to the sump so he would eat just the aptasia.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

I'm guessing he has been eating his fill of other foods. When I had one I put him in my sump and rotated my rockwork out of the display to the sump so he would eat just the aptasia.

sump is a better option for this fish I would think...Also would keep him hungry which would induce the aptasia eating

 

[AydenLincoln]

I know this thread is so old but @DanielR2R did you ever add the yellow tamarin with melanurus? How did it go? Thinking about getting one.

 

[Slocke]

I know this thread is so old but did @DanielR2R did you ever add the yellow tamarin with melanurus? How did it go? Thinking about getting one.

Unfortunately these fish are incredibly sensitive and it is very rare that anyone has any success with them. Save your money and get something more reasonable.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Unfortunately these fish are incredibly sensitive and it is very rare that anyone has any success with them. Save your money and get something more reasonable.

I knew they were harder to keep because of diet. But I didn’t know success rate was that poor. Thanks.

 

[Slocke]

I knew they were harder to keep because of diet. But I didn’t know success rate was that poor. Thanks.

Actually just realized that this thread was about the yellowtail, A meleagrides not the yellow streaked A femininus.
The yellowtail is the most reasonable of the tamarin wrasse. It is still a very difficult fish but doable. I would only get one that looks healthy and is eating at an LFS but I have one and it is doing well.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Actually just realized that this thread was about the yellowtail, A meleagrides not the yellow streaked A femininus.
The yellowtail is the most reasonable of the tamarin wrasse. It is still a very difficult fish but doable. I would only get one that looks healthy and is eating at an LFS but I have one and it is doing well.

Yes correct! Have you ever kept a melanurus with one?

 

[Slocke]

Yes correct! Have you ever kept a melanurus with one?

No but I have three different species of Halichoeres in with it. They do not handle aggression well but if you are careful it should do just fine. I always suggest an acclimation box.
This fish needs a sand bed (not crushed coral), copepods, and I suggest giving all fish access to nori occasionally.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Mine did fine together. No issues.

 

[argiBK]

Both of mine do fine together as well. The Yellowtail sometimes obsessively follows the Mel then gets chased off after a bit, but otherwise they’re fine.