Mystery Wrasse Owners?

[reefwisher]

How many of you mystery wrasse owners have had your mystery eat your small hermits crabs (cuc) varieties? They say they are reef safe and they go after ornamental shrimps which kind of raise a red flag for me. If I get one and once it in it stays in,because I am not going to tear my reef down to get it out. I know each has their own personality but it nice to know the overall average. I really like my red tip crabs, I think they do an excellent job of helping to keep my live rocks cleaned up. Thanks

 

[Cozmo4]

I've caught my mystery wrasse eating shrimp, snails and hermits. They can be pretty aggressive.

 

[MikeandNicole]

We once floated a couple of peppermint shrimp in the tank to temp acclimate them and the mystery tried to eat them through the bag. Needless to say they went in another tank. He also dove after a pistol shrimp we tried to add as well. We have not caught him going after hermits, but the dozens or so empty snail shells leads me to believe he quite likes those. Generally he goes for the smaller ones, he leaves our large nassarius snails alone.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, they eat things you might wish to keep.

 

[Grant W]

Mine was a model citizen for about 2 years and just recently decided he likes the taste of my cleaner shrimp. Real bummer as I've always had at least one but I don't think he bothers the snails or crabs.

 

[reefwisher]

Thanks for the heads up. I kind of figured this.

 

[reefknight]

Bought one a couple of years ago from a fellow reefer. Said the wrasse never touched any of his inverts. Brought him home and within 24hrs he had killed my 3yr old cleaner shrimp, one hit and he took off his entire head. If I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it. Needless to say, wrasse was sold to a friend with a fish only system.

Love that wrasse, but not in my reef again.