Halichoeres recommendations

[lee_d_m]

Hi,

I'd like to get a Halichoeres wrasse as my next fish.

He needs to be compatible with a peacock wrasse (bipartitus) and a mcoskers.
Other tank mates are a pair of clowns, royal gramma, one spot foxface and a bellus angel.

Would also prefer one that doesn't get too big, i.e no more than 6 inches.

I like the banana wrasse and Iridis wrasse, but not sure what other options I have, so all recommendations are welcome

Thanks

 

[eatbreakfast]

There are a lot of great choices, H. rubricephalus is my all time favorite, but can be difficult to find and is sensitive when first added, the 2 species you mentioned are great biocellatus and leucurus are underrated and chrysotaenia is IMO a prettier alternative to melanurus, which IME gets alittle pushy as it matures.

 

[lee_d_m]

Great, thank you.

What are the two I mentioned like with shrimp ? I have two cleaners, a fire and a peppermint currently ?

Is the silver belly (Lexocanthus) or Coris wrasse suitable as well ?

Thanks

Lee

 

[SkullV]

I am a huge fan of my Greyhead Wrasse (Halichoeres leucurus ). Hasn't touched my cleaner or either of my peppermint shrimp, including when I was out of town for 10 days and it only had pods to eat.

 

[lee_d_m]

He certainly is a pretty guy, not sure I've seen those over here in the UK though.

What sort of size do they get up to ?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I am a huge fan of my Greyhead Wrasse (Halichoeres leucurus ). Hasn't touched my cleaner or either of my peppermint shrimp, including when I was out of town for 10 days and it only had pods to eat.

These are pics of a young male melanurus. Fine at this size, but results are mixed with older individuals, but oftentimes can be kept with shrimp, but in cases may not.

 

[SkullV]

These are pics of a young male melanurus. Fine at this size, but results are mixed with older individuals, but oftentimes can be kept with shrimp, but in cases may not.

No, they are not. They are pics of a young Grey Head.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+2996&pcatid=2996

A lot of times people will confuse them with Vrolick's (in fact I really think it's a Vrolick's), but definitely not Melanurus.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The lines on the snout of a leucurus are not greenish yellow under the mouth, also the tail of a leucurus has a strong blue line with yellow corners and wihin the blue line the caudal has no red coloring. The picture above has an intricate red and green tail that is how the melanurus is differentiated from chrysotaenia, which has a spotted tail, not lined like in the pics.

 

[SkullV]

The lines on the snout of a leucurus are not greenish yellow under the mouth, also the tail of a leucurus has a strong blue line with yellow corners and wihin the blue line the caudal is solidly colored. The picture above has an intricate red and green tail that is how the melanurus is differentiated from chrysotaenia.

Yeah, still going with definitely not a melanurus.

melanurus:

Vrolik's:

Mine:

Could see it being a Vrolik's and like I said, I believe it is, but no way is that fish a melanurus.

 

[SkullV]

ANYWAY, sorry for going OT in your thread, If it's a Vrolik's I like it, hasn't touched shrimp or anything else but pods and prepared foods. My secnond choice would be a Halichoeres cosmetus:

 

[Myles]

I love my H. rubricephalus-doesn't bother anyone and ignores shrimps and my cuc. His tankmates are pretty mellow: pinkstreaked wrasse, mandarin, ocellaris clown and a fantail filefish and they are all ignored.
Myles

 

[jschultzbass]

SkullV - I think it looks identical to a Vroliks.

I have an H. melanurus with a pair of fire shrimp and a pair of skunk cleaner shrimp for the last couple years and he hasn't touched any of them. Absolutely beautiful fish as well.

 

[SDguy]

I really liked my biocellatus, Attractive, and smaller than most from this genus.

 

[Rea17]

I really love my iridis. Model citizen and very active

 

[hogfanreefer]

I have a Vrolik's and it's my favorite fish. I think a Radiant or a biocellatus would also be great choices.

 

[Triggerfish]

i have a melanarus but like the christmas wrasse better i think.
leaves my snails and cleaner alone.

 

[adamwheel]

It took 3 attempts for me to finally get a healthy Radiant (H. Iridis) but they are gorgeous. I've read they are very susceptible to intestinal parasites.

Also a big fan of H. Claudia (one of the Xmas wrasses) and the grey head.

I have seen my Claudia go after and kill a peppermint shrimp. She leaves my cleaner shrimp alone (so far) however.

Dusky wrasses are beautiful (and large) but seem fairly hard to come by.

The Halichoeres genus has some beautiful fish. Good luck

Adam

 

[arc eye]

I really love my iridis. Model citizen and very active

Wow! Very nice!

 

[Scubasteve13]

I am a fan of the melanarus. I have 1 in my reef for almost 2 years now and he hasn't bothered any of my shrimp crabs or anything. I thought radiant wrasses went after inverts?

 

[degibson84]

I have a changing melanurus with a juvi yellow coris and they are fine together