longranger
New member
Looking for a wrasse that might be a good predator of brisleworms and tiny snails etc.. Also want a relatively peacefull and hardy fish. Can anyone comment on the relative merrits of these 2 beautifull types of wrasse.
Melanurus Vs Christmas Wrasse
- Thread starter longranger
- Start date
38bill
Member
What Christmas wrasse? That name is used for several different wrasse.
I have a Melanurus that I can hand feed bristle worms. He seems to really enjoy them while he chews them up and then spits out some of the bristles so I assume that he also catches them himself. I also have an Ornate (aka Christmas wrasse) that is constantly hunting but I can not say for sure that he eats bristle worms.
I have a Melanurus that I can hand feed bristle worms. He seems to really enjoy them while he chews them up and then spits out some of the bristles so I assume that he also catches them himself. I also have an Ornate (aka Christmas wrasse) that is constantly hunting but I can not say for sure that he eats bristle worms.
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longranger
New member
Sounds like your Melanurus is very tame. Really cool that you can feed the worms directly to him. How big a tank do they share?
pacislandaqua
.Registered Member
ornate wrasse? H. ornatissimus?
melanurus is a better choice. Ornates get huge and males are very aggressive
melanurus is a better choice. Ornates get huge and males are very aggressive
flfireman1
Wrasse aficionado
Ive heard that the Christmas wrasse tends to be much more aggresive. Stick to a melanurus you wont regret it.
longranger
New member
Thanks for all the input. Think I will stick with Melanurus for my worm slayer.
Cleaner Shrimp
New member
The melanarus is a great looking fish, and is adept at pest control. But I have lots of small-medium snails and a few ornamental shrimp that a melanarus may go after once full grown. That might be a consideration for you.
After developing a zoa-eating nudibranch problem, I went with a small yellow coris wrasse (halichoeres chrysus), which I thought would have less problems with inverts. As an adult, my yellow coris wrasse didn't go after my established shrimp. But if I don't flip over turbo snails within 6 hours of them flipping over, I notice empty shells when I get home.
After developing a zoa-eating nudibranch problem, I went with a small yellow coris wrasse (halichoeres chrysus), which I thought would have less problems with inverts. As an adult, my yellow coris wrasse didn't go after my established shrimp. But if I don't flip over turbo snails within 6 hours of them flipping over, I notice empty shells when I get home.
BeanMachine
Active member
Is that your Dusky in your avatar? Beautiful. Mine is developing the the golds now. Is yours a glutten like mine?
+1 I love my melanurus, beautiful and very useful. A snail or crab getting picked on is all you have to worry about on occasion.
Ambition
New member
So what kind of christmas wrasse are you referring to? H. claudia?
flfireman1
Wrasse aficionado
Yes, I love my Dusky, probably my favorite fish. He is pretty much the dominant wrasse in the aquarium and lets everyone know it at feeding time. Although the aggression never results in any damage, just a short chase and just directed to my other wrasses.
If you can find one, a dusky wrasse will devour bristle worms and I think do a better job than my melanurus wrasse.
Here are some older pics of my dusky.
aandfsoccr04
Active member
anybody have experience with this fish?
Monroereef
New member
I had both and after a while The Xmas wrasse became very aggressive towards other wrasses and my twin spot hogfish. The melanrus is a better choice in my opinion.
Good luck.
Sunny
Good luck.
Sunny
longranger
New member
Well it is done. My LFS had a really nice Melanurus. He is now acclimating under a drip. Will try to get a pic or 2 whenever he decides to let me.
aandfsoccr04
Active member
So what kind of christmas wrasse are you referring to? H. claudia? If so,
anybody have experience with this fish?
anybody have experience with this fish?
Dangerwill
New member
Not sure if anyone is still checking this thread but has anyone kept 2 melanarus together? There is a fella getting ready to tear down his tank and I want his mel wrasse but I already have one. Mine is a female and I dont know what his is. Just wondering about their compatibility.
el aguila
Member
I bought a juvi 2 1/4" and month later got an adult male 3". They were fine for about 3 months then war broke out and I now have just the larger one. Nice fish, but he eats cleaner shrimp.
Dangerwill
New member
thanks for responding guys. I decided against risking it with 2 mel wrasses but I am going to get a yellow coris to put in with her instead.
