Melanurus Wrasse owns the tank

[b_newman]

In my 120g, a melanurus wrasse has been since the beginning 3 years ago. I added the wrasse to help fix a flatworm problem, so, it was all alone in the tank for 2-3 weeks. Today, I have a timid orchid dottyback, as well as a large blue tang & pair of clownfish that are both unbothered by the wrasse. I hoped that the dottyback might be bold enough to swim in the open, but is chased away every time I see it. All others, such as anthias & gobies have been harassed then disapear forever.

Is this behavior common, or expected when seemingly peaceful fish, shuch as my wrasse are alone long enough to claim the entire aquascape?

 

[Dmorty217]

Melanarus wrasse are mean as they come, my 4" one was harassing my Quoyi parrot for weeks on end and the parrot is about double his size. Needless to say I rearranged some rock and chased the wrasse around the tank until he dove into the sand to hide. Haven't had a problem since

 

[DustyReefer]

I'm actually getting rid of my melanuras tomorrow because he's just become belligerent in my 150, and he was the last fish I've added.

 

[Bernie21]

I just got rid of mine today.. it definitely owned my tank. It was too aggressive, but he was also the older statesmen. I had on in a larger tank before & it was one of the last fish & it was great, so Im thinking its either the larger tank &/or the order it is added.

 

[degibson84]

I recently added a changing melanurus to a 220. He/she hasn't shown any aggression at all. The fish does do a slight dance with my juvenile/female yellow coris but other than that he is a model citizen(so far). I would like for him to show some aggression to maybe put my tomini tang in check. That guy is just straight nasty to everyone

 

[b_newman]

The fish has a personality and is fun to watch, so I had considered removing it for time to change some rockwork, then reintroduce or even replace it.

Thanks for the details and replies. Now I think I'll just get another fairy wrasse instead. How long could the melanurus last in a 50g tank with only a 4" female gold bar?

 

[Bernie21]

it could last forever... once its asserted its self as king, good luck adding others. I say add it, just make sure it is last, or close to it. Also if you add it in the beginning, make sure whatever you add can handle a lil tough love. When I added clowns, they could care less that he was trying them so eventually he gave up, but other fish did mind, so he would not stop harassing them. I even caught him and let him go once the other fish had settled in for sometime & he went back at it. SO I took him out for good today.

 

[TripleJ21]

I also just added a Melanurus a few days ago... My Red Headed Fairy Wrasse and the Melanurus are best buds! He hasn't harassed any other of my fish yet.. All I plan on adding is a tang and an angel later so hopefully he will become a model citizen!

 

[b_newman]

it could last forever... once its asserted its self as king, good luck adding others. I say add it, just make sure it is last, or close to it. Also if you add it in the beginning, make sure whatever you add can handle a lil tough love. When I added clowns, they could care less that he was trying them so eventually he gave up, but other fish did mind, so he would not stop harassing them. I even caught him and let him go once the other fish had settled in for sometime & he went back at it. SO I took him out for good today.

Sorry, I didn't mention that the clownfish is already alone in the other tank. My question was a little sarcastic, but I still want to hear other opinions about adding the wrasse to it. There's a sandbed for it too

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I put a small one in my 40b about a year and a half ago to clean up my flatworms. It has grown fast and is getting very aggressive towards my female clown. They had a scuffle and the sand was flying this morning. I really need to get him out.

 

[MIKE NY]

I had one that was peaceful and then another which was a terror..so they are hit or miss ..because of that reason they are my banned list of wrasses along with Sixlines and Mysteries....

 

[3dees]

I've had mine with a candy wrasse for about 8 months. it's changing into a male. so far no problems with any other fish.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I heard they can be mean. No personal experience though

 

[Larz_1]

I have a Melanarus in my 120g. He gets along great with everyone and has shown absolutely NO aggression.
Tank mates are a pair of Ocellaris clowns, Royal Gramma, Diamond Goby, Bicolor Goby and a Potter's Angel. They all swim together and get along great.

I wanted a peaceful tank and researched a lot before purchasing him and this is the first I've heard of aggression. I did remove a Yellow Tang that was harassing everyone, so maybe he was just glad to be rid of her .......

 

[ReefTeacher]

Is it possible that gender is a factor in aggression? I notice even fairy wrasses can become aggressive if they are large males. I have a fairly peaceful melanurus who was added early on, but a large aggressive cyanopleura owns the tank, a 180. I think my melanurus is female.

 

[3dees]

mine is/was a female. I wanted to add a male recently but was warned that my female may be changing into a male which may cause problems. it's color is changing, so I guess so is it's gender. anyway, it's looking better and better.

 

[aggie13reef]

I have a melanurus in my tank and Im pretty sure he was the culprit on the purple firefish that died a few days after addition. He has been in the tank the longest therefor I would assume he is dominant over the other fish, which worries me because I just added a clown pair. Hoping for some good luck.