christmas wrasse

[Mel-E-Mel]

Are these wrasses reef safe? How aggresive can they get? Saw one at the LFS today and i just couldnt turn it down, such a nice fish!

 

[ACBlinky]

H. ornatissimus is a VERY pretty fish, but can be bossy -- IME their personality is somewhat like a sixline or other boisterous wrasse. Mine gets along with the tang, angels, goby, midas blenny, damsel... everyone but the Potter's wrasse (which was established first). The Potter's is a different shape & colour and I was assured they would get along. They did, for a time, until the ornate got comfy in her new surroundings and decided she was in charge of things!

In short, provided you don't want to keep any small shrimp like peppermints, which the wrasse may attack, and you're not keeping small/timid fish, you should be just fine.

 

[Mel-E-Mel]

Thanks ACBlinky, My livestock now consist of a yellow tang, Black saddle back clown, and a engineer goby.....so far it seems to be getting along with everyone....also looks like it likes to follow the tang around which i thought was pretty funny. My CB and blood shrimp are pretty large and looks like the wrasse has not bothered them all day. I will keep an eye out just in case. I still would like to stock a few more fishes so i guess i will try to get some that are larger or equal size to the wrasse.