Melanarus Wrasse and Yellow Coris Wrasse

[IUfan]

Can a Melanarus Wrasse and Yellow Coris Wrasse be kept together in a 180 gallon reef?

I have a Melanarus wrasse and looking to add a yellow. I'm concerned that they have very similar body shapes, so they may not get on, and my melanarus is quite big, not sure I want another wrasse quite as big, maybe someone has a suggestion for another wrasse that is a bit smaller but that is still good at prowling the livestock for any unwanted pests?

 

[Buzzword]

Radiant wrasse, awesome and mows down flat worms and pyramidal snails like nobodies business!

 

[Buzzword]

And yes I know both Halichoeres wrasses but should be fine in that size tank. I had both in a 120 with no problems and a mystery wrasse to boot. Absolutely no problems and no flat worms.

 

[triggreef]

Everyone is different. Adding them at the same time is best. I've had it go both ways. Mostly the hard way when one is already established.

I also had established melanurus with yellow coris (which is still H. family btw) and they were fine together. The yellow went down the overflow though and after a couple weeks I found him and put him back in the display, only to be killed by the same melanurus that was previously perfectly fine with it.

 

[triggreef]

Adding more than one might help. Do a trio of yellows, they will be nice with eachother and maybe disperse the melanurus initial aggression.

 

[tvoydan]

I keep a melanarus in a 195 along with a yellow coris wrasse no problems. Also a 6 line. They all seem to get along fine.

 

[IUfan]

I'm worried about the yellow wrasse being too big, do they really get as big as the melanarus?

I know it's not huge but I have other stock in mind, and don't want to give up too much real estate on another large wrasse. I'd like another wrasse but more in a six line wrasse size range.

it would be nice if they eat AEFW, I don't think I have any but just in case I miss any on incoming corals, having a fish that can keep populations of that pest to a minimum is a nice bonus.

I'm leaning towards a mystery wrasse? There an inch smaller, nice color, and hear they eat flatworms too? Thoughts

 

[IUfan]

Just not feeling the radiant, like the attributes, but not sure on the color. I def can't add 3 yellow wrasse.

Triggreef sorry for your loss, that must have been so frustrating to find him and then lose him like that, v sorry.

Im keen on the mystery wrasse, buzzword, your mystery work well in live rock prowling department, eat flatworms? Like I said, looking for a nice colored fish but be nice for it to have some good attributes too, just in case.

 

[Buzzword]

Yeah mystery ate all the stuff I didn't want, flat worms, pyramidal snails, even small bristle worms. They get a bad wrap too but mine was peaceful with the other wrasses including leopard wrasse. Tell you what though Radiant wrasse was the best hunter of them all and is beautiful, very iridescent with shimmering blends to their colors. One of mine and my wife's favorite fish.

 

[triggreef]

Just not feeling the radiant, like the attributes, but not sure on the color. I def can't add 3 yellow wrasse.

Radiant is probably the best looking H. family wrasse. I have yet to see a good looking picture but in person they are a different story. They are not easy to find in my area and don't ship well at all. So far I lost 2 mail order radiants within a day of arrival. One doa. Waiting for one to come across DD but haven't seen it happen much.

 

[IUfan]

The images I've seen of the radiant doesn't look that much, the head looks really colorful but the body looks like it's all black, but from what I'm reading it's a very colorful fish, maybe pics aren't doing it justice.

I hear the green wrasse is pretty good at eating flatworm pest off of coral? But gets to 8" just don't want a wrasse that big.

I'm torn now between radiant and mystery.

 

[Marshall O]

Between those two, assuming you have a suitable sandbed (which I am sure you do), I would go with the H. iridis hands down based on temperament alone.

 

[NyReefNoob]

to answer your question, yes you can keep the two together with no problems i kept m/f yellow coris with a melanarus and several flashers with no issue

 

[maikoa02]

I was able to. They sometimes chased each other, like all wrasses, but no damage. They did well together until I went bare bottom. The sand was their den for resting.

 

[betamed]

I have a huge melanarus i added two small yellow coris and there were no issues

 

[IUfan]

Great to hear guys. I did some more research and looking for a Radiant Wrasse, my QT is bare bottom, just wondering whether I should skip QT this time, worried that they don't ship well and that in a bare bottom QT will only lessen the chances.

What do you think?

 

[evolved]

You need a container with sand in the QT.

 

[IUfan]

Great idea! Will try this!

 

[hogfanreefer]

I have a melanurus,yellow and a Christmas wrasse (H. claudia) in a 72x24x21 with no issues at all. They were added one at a time with the large melanurus first.

 

[HiImSean]

Use an acclimation box for sure. I just added a flasher with my melanurus and after the mela paid no attention to the flasher I released it. The mela chased the flasher for a day or two but everything is good now.