Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) experience?

[IrishTang]

So another question to pose to the group. This one is regarding the Hoeven's wrasse. I would like to know how many of you have them, any problems? eating cleaner shrimp? decimating pod population?

On the surface this fish seems to have everything going for it. Beautiful coloration, active, peaceful, heck, even eats parasites and some pests. I was at FAOIS this weekend and almost picked one up but I restrained myself and got a big beautiful male red mandarin. My main concern is eating my cleaner, I can always replace hermits and snails (and do on a regular basis anyway).



I know that no 2 fish are the same however I'd like to get a small poll going. I always like to see numbers as far as success and failure to gauge my own chances (again no 2 fish are the same).

 

[Seagars]

i have and no problems, but all of my cleaner shrimp were larger than wrasse when i got.

 

[CuzzA]

Mine is a great fish. No problems bothering other fish, shrimp, corals, even hermits. Occasionally he'll beat up a snail, but has never actually killed one. He definitely hunts for amphipods all day making him super active. You don't have to worry about him hurting your small size copepod population (Mandarin food) as they hunt for larger pods.

 

[listen2bob]

Snail's small cleaner crabs and small shrimp would be fair game, all wrasses will hit up your pods

 

[IrishTang]

Do you guys have males or females?

 

[CuzzA]

Male. I bought mine as a sub/adult as you see in the pic. He's about 5" now and starting to bulk up his chest. After extensive research on wrasses I came to the conclusion they are more "invert safe" than many of the other so called "fish only" wrasses.

 

[IrishTang]

Stunning fish!

 

[CuzzA]

Stunning fish!

Thank you. They are pretty. I got him from FAOIS. He was in their sps tank for a month or two and I convinced Chris to take a shot at catching him and I'll be damned if he didn't nab him the first try with a quick splash and swoop of the net. I doubt he'd of been successful at a second chance.

 

[ChadRaay86]

They get big, and at that point they can be disruptive. I've always been cautioned to stay clear of that particular wrasse in regards to the "reef safe" variety. Take a look at the Christmas wrasse (Hawaii) or yellow coris wrasse (not yellow tail, as those are a horrible idea in most cases). I have had both and they have been very well behaved, although the yellow coris is a jumper

 

[listen2bob]

Mine is a male as well.

 

[koddyVT]

I had a male before I moved from VA. He is a really cool fish. Every now and then he would take out a hermit or snail (no issues with coral) Other than that he was the man. He's still happily swimming around my friend's tank with no issues.