LF: Positive ID

[Anthrax15]

This guy a Tamarin Wrasse? If so, what kind? Completely reef safe?


IMG_0878 by Anthrax15, on Flickr


Thanks

 

[82ndengineer]

Yellow tail tamarin and they are carnivores and reef safe with "caution". If you like shrimp and crabs I wouldn't risk it. Also gets 8.5".

 

[Anthrax15]

I dont plan on any shrimp or crabs. Need to worry about coral at all? Ive got some docile fish that I don't want getting picked on.

 

[mic209]

Plan on feeding a lot, 4-5x a day to keep it alive. I had one, and it was doing great, I fed it 3x a day either mysid, brine shrimp or pellets, but it wasn't enough as it did not make it after about 3 months. It is completly safe with coral, and not aggressive at all.

 

[evolved]

Anampses meleagrides

A touchy tamarin...

They're hardy once acclimated to your system, but getting them to that point can be a challange. Getting them to eat, and getting enough to eat, are the biggest challange. If there's any mouth damage; pass on it - doomed at that point. Completely reef safe yes, but note this species tops a little over 8" at maturity.

Kevin Kohen recommends you feed any Anampses up to 20 times per day when first introduced. They're slow eaters and have a fast metabolism.

The genus does require a soft/fine sandbed too, and like any wrasse a COMPLETELY covered tank.

 

[azkass]

I've had one for around three months now. Mine is a little over an inch. Like mandarins, they need an ongoing food source. Mine is constantly foraging the rock looking for pods. Mine will eat pellets, or at least tries to given his small size and I feed mysis once a day. Very colorful fish. I highly recommend getting one if you're willing to put in the extra effort.

 

[zibba]

Great picture!

 

[Anthrax15]

Yup, not getting one lol

Thanks folks!

 

[azkass]

Yup, not getting one lol

Thanks folks!

Why? You totally should. It's the coolest fish I've ever had aside from my angler when he ate damsels. If you have a good pod population he'll be fine. Go for It!

 

[Anthrax15]

I've already got a scooter blenny competing for pods and I'd rather go with a wrasse that doesn't need to be fed that often. Doesn't work with how I designed my system. Plus 8" would be too big for my tank.

 

[Anthrax15]

azkass can you post a pic of what yours looks like? I want to see if the one I am looking at is healthy or not. He looks to have a nice round belly.

 

[dotcommer]

It's a beautiful wrasse, and there's also a red tail one.

 

[Anthrax15]

Im gonna assume it'll take years for this fish to reach full length, correct?

 

[evolved]

azkass can you post a pic of what yours looks like? I want to see if the one I am looking at is healthy or not. He looks to have a nice round belly.

You want not skinny, but not bloated either, of course no signs of external parasites, and most importantly - no mouth damage.

Im gonna assume it'll take years for this fish to reach full length, correct?

Yes, it's a genus with rather long lifespans.

 

[azkass]

azkass can you post a pic of what yours looks like? I want to see if the one I am looking at is healthy or not. He looks to have a nice round belly.

Mine is tiny but has a lot of spunk. I'll try to get a pic when he comes out. He's my favorite fish!

 

[Anthrax15]

Well I went ahead and pulled the trigger on it. Felt it would have a better chance in my tank then at the LFS. She is only about an inch long. I put her in last night and she went straight for the sand. Today, she is out in the open picking at rock. I've tried feeding frozen but she doesn't seem interested.

Any recommendations on how to get her to eat? Im going to try live blackworms today too.

 

[evolved]

For frozen, start with Ova, then you'll be able to transition onto other frozen meaty foods.

 

[azkass]

Mine wasn't interested frozen at first either but she eventually came around and eats mysis, Rod's food and pretty much anything else. Give her time. She'll come around.

 

[mic209]

Well I went ahead and pulled the trigger on it. Felt it would have a better chance in my tank then at the LFS. She is only about an inch long. I put her in last night and she went straight for the sand. Today, she is out in the open picking at rock. I've tried feeding frozen but she doesn't seem interested.

Any recommendations on how to get her to eat? Im going to try live blackworms today too.

When I had mine it would only eat hikari mysis. Would not go near PE Mysis or SF Bay Mysis.

 

[jporter]

For frozen, start with Ova, then you'll be able to transition onto other frozen meaty foods.

Agree on the Ova. I have also had good luck with reef caviar. JP