Hoeven's Wrasse (aka melanurus)

[evolved]

My opinion (and experience) here:

These guys get big, and have nasty teeth. [yup]

Ive had large wrasses in this genera multiple times and still do. [me as well]

Heres some rules of thumb - clams (despite above picture) can be targeted. [Partially disagree. I believe this behavior is due to them looking for pyramidal snails (near the foot; they can, and will, flip them over looking for such). Any damage done to the clam during this inspection is either collateral damage or the wrasse happens to see the foot and finds it kinda tasty. If your clams are footed, you need not worry.]

Your fairy wrasse will probably get bullied. [disagree]

And any inverts (small hermits and snails are a favorite) will have to be replaced from time to time. [very much agree]

I feel that some of my smaller cleaner shrimp (when I add them) meet their doom after freshly molting. [It can happen. How much at risk a shrimp may be at depends on the species of shrimp and it's size. Certain ones, like coral banded, should always be fine. Wrasses generally aren't stupid.]

Just know you are okay 90% of the time, but you are getting a larger wrasse - and this is just what comes with the territory. [also agree]

 

[Cubaus58]

The Hoeven's Wrasse

The Hoeven's Wrasse

Just introduced a Hoeven's Wrasse last night. This morning I have not seen him !

 

[mastersonr]

Just introduced a Hoeven's Wrasse last night. This morning I have not seen him !

He buried himself in the sand. He may stay buried for a couple of days and this is normal. Just leave him alone and he will come out when he is ready. This is normal behavior when they are introduced to a new tank.

 

[gillsmarine]

From my experience they can be pretty mean to newly introduced wrasses but never had any issue with them picking at inverts.

 

[waddwadd]

I have had a massive one for about 4 months in a 90 gallon reef with about 18 other reef fish, invert's, coral, clams, starfish, you name it. It does GREAT! He is one of my favorite fish and never does anything.. My clam does fine with him. Have tons of snail to. I may just be lucky though!

 

[agetr]

mine eradicated a flatworm problem, grew incredibly fast, was always out and swimming. great fish, but as already stated eventually it will eat smaller crabs, snails, shrimp.

 

[nanomarine]

I have the M. wrasse and a purple tang for over a year before I introduced the pearly jawfish. I was hoping that the jawfish can avoid the attack from the purple tang since it lives in the sand, but it survived for 2 days hidden under rocks/sand and I found him fatally injured on the sandbed on the 3rd day. Can't be sure whether it was the tang, the wrasse or both that killed the jawfish.

I'm getting one this weekend, but I have a concern...

Since they burrow in the sand at night, do you think there'll be any compatability issues with a pearly jawfish ? I wouldn't think so, but thought I would check with the wrasse experts.

 

[nanomarine]

I added 2 other wrasses after the M wrasse and they all got along fine in a 140g tank. They don't bother my snails or hermits either and kept the rocks pest free.

From my experience they can be pretty mean to newly introduced wrasses but never had any issue with them picking at inverts.

 

[nickandMK]

Yeah your one of the lucky ones waddwadd I had one start eating peppermint shrimp tried to eat my pistol shrimp then he had to go

 

[waddwadd]

YIKES!!! I couldn't imagine mine doing that!!! I will post a picture of mine soon.

 

[Azraz]

I've had one for 4 months now, did not see him for four days when introduced!
He did not kill anything that I did not want him to. He is INCREDIBLY fat in the stomach, so he is eating something other that what I give the general population to eat, even loves nori, stays on the tang line for his turn. Grew about 3/4" in only four months. Very nice looking worker for your tank.

 

[Ngoodermuth]

My melanurus was posing tonight so I snapped a few pics with my point-and-click. It is just beginning terminal male phase. Love this fish, and don't mind the clean-up crew needing beefed up now and again.

This is my second time owning one, the first was sold when I took a break from the hobby. He is fine with all tank mates including two other wrasses.