Best wrasse for pest with exception

[Finsky]

I have had a female Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) in the tank for the past year and she roves the entire length of the tank and is quick enough to avoid even the fastest fish. She is about three inches. I would love to get a male although I have been on a few waiting lists for a year and one has not become available. The females are all brown with a black spot on the back of their dorsal fin. She is well behaved with other fish. Live Aquaria rates them as peaceful and I have never had any problems with my five clams, various zooanthids, colony polyps, anemones, brain corals etc.

 

[tunafishe]

Anybody know if the Mystery Wrasse is as aggressive as the six line? I really want a mystery.

 

[BeanMachine]

Of my wrasse posse the melanurus, dusky, and yellow/purple (halichoeres sp? ) and the leopards are equal hunters in my experience. They will eat anything... Haven't had red bugs but flatworms for sure they eat. Just the way the hunt and forage they get into all the crevices. The two fairy wrasses I have don't pick at the rocks really at all.

The first three are good with shrimp... Mostly all crabs and shrimp sometimes they mess with them but honestly not much. I've had most of my fish for two years or more, the leapords for two and one year.

I'd recommend getting a small melanurus into a tank that already has shrimp and inverts. Feed it well and you should be alright. Never any guarantees though...

 

[Finsky]

I would like to see a picture of the Dusky, male or female.

 

[BeanMachine]

I would like to see a picture of the Dusky, male or female.

Now that is not one of my specialties... I can't get a pic of him on my iphone hehe. His colors are too dark. His tail is yellow, his body has the dark striations, and each month its head gets a bit more orangish gold. Not sure about the spot you speak of, I was looking at it yesterday and didn't see one.

Here's a video, its one of them haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZLbvggm7X8

 

[Bernie21]

I have a Melenarus and it is a great pest eater! Doesnt mess w my shrimps at all & I have several of them.

 

[Finsky]

Cool!

Your Wrasses are all really nice looking. What a wrasse show.

How did you come by the male Dusky as live aquaria refers to them as "a true Peacock".

They only have a picture of a male on their Web site and it does not have the black spot that the females does on the rear part of her dorsal fin. She does have alot of personality as your Dusky seems to have as he carries himself in the tank.

I have been waiting for a long time for a male as I purchased my female from their Divers Den.

 

[BeanMachine]

Cool!

Your Wrasses are all really nice looking. What a wrasse show.

How did you come by the male Dusky as live aquaria refers to them as "a true Peacock".

They only have a picture of a male on their Web site and it does not have the black spot that the females does on the rear part of her dorsal fin. She does have alot of personality as your Dusky seems to have as he carries himself in the tank.

I have been waiting for a long time for a male as I purchased my female from their Divers Den.

I just asked a lfs in my area to look out for one and I got it that way. I paid 35 bucks I think. Its color is still pretty dull compared to that live aquaria photo tho.
it's got the reds yellow and blue in the tail... Not as vibrant maybe someday.

 

[fishguy194]

I would love to get a male although I have been on a few waiting lists for a year and one has not become available.

Just FYI, all wrasses are sequential hermaphrodites... If you get 2 or more females, one will eventually turn into a male. Usually takes 2-6 months depending on species. Also, males do not tend to adapt as well to captivity. So I have always added a group of females to a tank and waited for one to change. It's very fascinating to watch too!

 

[Finsky]

BeanMachine:

I just got an email notification on Tuesday night from Drs Foster and Smith that they had a large Dusky Wrasse. It was not in the Divers Den so they could not guarantee a male although made a request for me when I ordered Wednesday morning.

Before I opened the shipping bag I could see a faily large 4 1/2" Dusky swimming around with what looked like color striations on a dark background. After opening the bag and starting an hour of acclimation with five gallons of aquarium water I could tell I had my male to go with the lonely 3 1/2" female I have had for a year. Hopefully he will pick at the rocks like the female constantly does.

I really feel complete with this beauty to go with his female!

I also heard from Blue Zoo Aquatics who said they just received a large male Dusky as well.

I would have a harem if the Drs Foster and Smith would have been female because I would have then got the male form Blue Zoo Aquatics.

The males are a strikingly beatiful fish although the females have their own style and personality which I like.

 

[BeanMachine]

BeanMachine:

I just got an email notification on Tuesday night from Drs Foster and Smith that they had a large Dusky Wrasse. It was not in the Divers Den so they could not guarantee a male although made a request for me when I ordered Wednesday morning.

Before I opened the shipping bag I could see a faily large 4 1/2" Dusky swimming around with what looked like color striations on a dark background. After opening the bag and starting an hour of acclimation with five gallons of aquarium water I could tell I had my male to go with the lonely 3 1/2" female I have had for a year. Hopefully he will pick at the rocks like the female constantly does.

I really feel complete with this beauty to go with his female!

I also heard from Blue Zoo Aquatics who said they just received a large male Dusky as well.

I would have a harem if the Drs Foster and Smith would have been female because I would have then got the male form Blue Zoo Aquatics.

The males are a strikingly beatiful fish although the females have their own style and personality which I like.

Awesome! Congratulations! What a great surprise.

 

[snorvich]

Leopard wrasses are very difficult to keep, as they're quite picky on foods if I remember correctly. With an established tank and attached refugium they have better odds. I don't know them for pest control, but may be wrong.

Correct. No value for pest control.