Looking for Wrasse Suggestions...

[corwise]

My 90 gal tank currently has:

2 Sebae Clowns
2 Green Clown Gobies
1 Lawnmower Blennie
1 Dragon Gobie

I'm planning to add:

2 Tangs (not sure what kind, smaller ones)
1 Flame Angel

I would like to add a wrasse, because I like the way the move/look in the tank. I'm trying to find one that is:

A) Reef safe
B) Won't eat my snails/shrimp once it gets bigger
C) Not a flasher wrasse, just don't like those

I'm having trouble finding one that meets those three criteria, and isn't super sensitive/expensive. I used to have a coris green wrasse in my old tank, he was very cool until he ate all my shrimp. Trying to avoid a repeat of that. Thanks.

ps. This is my 51st post, only 49 more and I can add my own picture to my profile, how exciting.

 

[chris4693]

I have a Christmas wrasse, very cool looking. I picked it up at ART. I have snails, shrimp, crabs, lots of SPS and Zoo's and no problems with the wrasse

 

[Youngsilver]

This isnt intended to promote the online retailer, support you LFS (blah blah) here are some reefsafe wrasse according to a popular online retailer

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1378


Six Line Wrasse
(Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
Fiji, Indo Pacific



Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
(Paracheilinus carpenteri)
Solomon Islands, Melanesia



Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
Indonesia





Filamented Flasher Wrasse
(Paracheilinus filamentosus)
Solomon Islands



Multicolor Lubbock's Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
Indo-Pacific



Leopard Wrasse
(Macropharyngodon meleagris)
Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands/Coral Sea, Sri Lanka





Velvet Multicolor Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus)
Marshall Islands



Yellow Fin Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis)
Melanesia



Ruby Head Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura)
Sri Lanka





Black Leopard Wrasse
(Macropharyngodon sp.)
Coral Sea, Fiji



Scarlet Pin Stripe Wrasse
(Pseudocheilinus evanidus)
Hawaii



Exquisite Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)
Africa, Maldives





Radiant Wrasse
(Halichoeres iridis)
East Africa



Mystery Wrasse
(Pseudocheilinus ocellatus)
Marshall Islands



Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus lineatus)
Australia, Coral Sea





Red Velvet Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
Maldives



Blue Star Leopard Wrasse
(Macropharyngodon bipartitus)
Africa



Longfin Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis)
Sri Lanka





Whip Fin Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus filamentosus)
Indian Ocean



Conde's Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus condei)
Melanesia



Scott's Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus scottorum)
Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji

 

[mskohl]

SWF = www.saltwaterfish.com
LA= www.liveaquaria.com

I really like these:

Yellow (Coris/Canary) (Halichoeres sp.) - SWF says reef safe; LA says with caution

Sixline (Pseudocheillinus hexataenia) - both LA and SWF say reef safe (my experience as well)

Rooster Fairy (Paracheilinus sp) - no info on these sites, but other Paracheilinus are safe

Red Coris (Coris gaimard) - SWF says monitor and LA says no

Pinstripe/ Christmas/Hoeven's (Halichoeres melanurus) SWF says no, LA says with caution - probably clams

Lunare/Lyretail (Thalassoma lunare) - SWF says not with shrimp; LA says no

Hawaiian Flame (Cirrhilabrus jordani) - LA says safe, SWF doesn't say.

Pictures are from www.saltwaterfish.com

 

[dugg]

I love this little guy. He does a great job at cleaning all the little hole out in the rocks. He also burrows in the sand at night. Never seen him touch anything he shouldn't. He was sold to me as a hawaiian green bird wrasse, but i wouldn't bank on that being right.

 

[corwise]

My book, "Marine Fishes" by Scott Michael says that most of those wrasses (coris, six line), while safe for reef, will eat shrimp/snails once they get larger. The only ones who won't are the flashers, which I don't want. Has anyone had any experience with them one way or the other?

 

[corwise]

Dugg,

That looks like my old coris green wrasse, was a wonderful fish. Was the only survivor of a few tank wipe outs, got pretty bit (5+in) and got some cool pink coloring around his face as he got bigger. Also got big enough to eat my cleaner shrimp. But he was a very cool fish.

 

[pwhitby]

Dugg that is a green coris.

I would go with yellow coris, christmas or six line wrasses.

I have all of those.

Paul.

 

[dugg]

So i can look forward to this guy getting unruley down the road then lol. Oh well he can go to the FO tank and live with the damsels when that day comes.

 

[papagimp]

I don't have a cool pic to show but I've always been partial to the painted fairy wrasse, so cool!

 

[corwise]

Dugg,

I wouldn't call him "unruley" down the road. He was a very calm, passive fish, never bothered any of my corals or other fish. He would pick up the hermit crabs, bring them to the back of the tank and eat them. Had a nice pile of shells I called the graveyard. And once he got big he decided the cleaner shrimp was edible too. He was a great fish though, thanks for the suggestion.

Dave