Large reef safe wrasses

H

haysanatar

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I want to add a larger reefsafe wrasse into my 125. I do have lps and sps but I don't have any inverts other than snails and hermit crabs... I just want to get a larger, coral safe, semi passive wrasse... color would be a plus.
I know most larger ones ARE NOT safe with smaller shrimp etc.. but since I don't have any.. that doesn't matter too much.
ideas? I thought about getting a hardwick wrasse... thoughts?
 
In my experience, when grown, even small wrasses aren't very safe with small shrimp.

The bigger ones, including the Harkwick's you mentioned, will devour your hermit crabs and snails in short order. Also, they're not usually what I'd consider passive fish.

They generally won't bother corals, so it can be done - but I wouldn't count on keeping your cleanup crew.
 
Melanurus?

Very active, but I don't know if it would qualify as 'semi passive'. Pretty fish, lots and lots of movement.
 
Pinkface Wrasse (in my avatar) won't touch your corals and is extremely colorful. I have had one for a few weeks now and it has not touched any snails or hermits, but each fish is different.
 
Large Reef Safe Wrasses

Large Reef Safe Wrasses

Haysanatar ; I had a beautiful Brazilian Wrasse that I gave to my friend because it outgrew my 46 gallon display and it was reef safe.I miss that fish it had a great personality. Check them out and see if you like the coloring.... Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!!!:bounce1:
 
SkullV said:
Pinkface Wrasse (in my avatar) won't touch your corals and is extremely colorful. I have had one for a few weeks now and it has not touched any snails or hermits, but each fish is different.
Click to expand...


Did you get it from Diver's Den by chance? One sold a few weeks back that was beautiful.

Has it been very aggressive with other fish?
 
yeah I don't plan on having any smaller shrimp..
only shrimp I want would be a cleaner shrimp probably a fire shrimp... ( skunk cleaner shrimp are food snatchers ) some of the larger wrasses really have personality there's a hardwick's at the lfs that's very personable looks really friendly.... but you know how that goes.


I need a nice coral safe wrasse large that won't bother fire shrimp hermits or snails.

the Melanurus and the Pink Face look amazing

liveaquaria has them for not too much.. but are out!

anyone have any experience with leapard wrasses?
 
I have a Melanurus and a M. meleagris leopard wrasse and they are both great reef fish (minus the invert eating, oh well).

Spend some time reading the leopard wrasse primer if you plan on buying one, they can be finicky.
 
I've witnessed the leopard bite a peppermint shrimp in half and eat it. I've also had a decrease in snail activity, although I've never actually seen either fish eat one. Well worth it in my opinion though. both are very peaceful with other fish, and don't touch coral at all.
 
a leopard bite a peppermint shrimp in half!!!!?!?!? really
I was under the impression they were just pod eaters...
I'm about done with astreas... after dealing with them for years.. its hard to believe in evolution... i mean really..
I'm moving to chitons (which I've had good experiences with) and long spine urchins..
and a few ceriths and nerites.
I really don't plan to have any peppermints and don't plan to.
do you think they'd mess with a fire shrimp?
or has anyone had a cleaner wrasse before?
 
I've kept LOTS of Macropharyngodon over the years and I can't see one biting a shrimp in half.
A Melanurus might.
Thallasoma (like the pink face etc.) will definitely take out shrimps/snails/crabs. (I wouldn't put a Hardwicke into a reef aquarium!)

Best large reef compatible wrasses are Cirrhilabrus species.


read this
 
I wouldn't have believed it, if I hadn't watched it happen. I released the shrimp in the middle of the day and it made it about 6 inches down the water column before being eaten. It never messed with the cleaner shrimp, although I removed them before adding the Melanurus.

I have a long spine urchin for algae control that does a wonderful job.
 
thanks for the quick responses guys.
i really wish the larger wrasses were shrimp friendly.
like the goldbar.. thats pretty..
has anyone had any cleaner wrasses?
do they actually clean..
or can they but don't usually.. or they do only on larger fish.
 
MCCOOL said:
Did you get it from Diver's Den by chance? One sold a few weeks back that was beautiful.

Has it been very aggressive with other fish?
Click to expand...

Yes, it was that one. I had been looking for a healthy one for a LONG time and the second that one came up on Divers Den it was mine.
 
definitely a gorgeous fish no doubt about that what do you have in your tank with it?
any issues so far.
and if you don't mind my asking what'd you pay for one.
 
Gary Majchrzak said:
I've kept LOTS of Macropharyngodon over the years and I can't see one biting a shrimp in half.
A Melanurus might.


read this
Click to expand...

I have two cleaners in with my Melanurus but they are pretty big. I also think my cerith population has taken taken a hit from this fish, but have never witnessed anything. Astraea's seem to fair just fine.

The main reason I got the Mel was pest control. There are a few negatives to them, but in general he serves his purpose well. Constantly roaming the reef looking for stuff.
 
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