Need help finding the right wrasse(s) for my tank

[mastersonr]

Calling all of you wrasse experts out there and I can see there are quite a few of you on this forum.

I have a 150g tank that has been up for almost 2 months now. Current fish are 1 flame hawk, 1 blue green chromis, 1 bi-color blenny, 1 ocellaris clown and 1 royal gramma. I would like to add a wrasse or two, angel or two(flame and/or majestic) and tang or two (Purple and Kole).

I have some turbo snails, hermit crabs and 1 tuxedo urchin now and will be adding some soft corals along the way. Fish will take priority over corals and CUC so I don't mind one taking a nibble here and there as long as they don't wipe something out completely.

I'm ok getting a completely reef safe wrasse but would also like to find one that gets a bit larger as well if I can mix two types of wrasses like this. I had a juvenile red corris wrasse in my last FOWLR tank but just traded in him when I got my new tank. I really liked him but I knew he would get to big and rowdy at some point for the type of tank I am going for. The other issue with him (and some of the other similar wrasses I have looked at) is that he dove into the sand at 7pm and woke up at 10am every day guaranteed. I would prefer something that stays up a little longer during prime tank viewing hours in the evening and so would my wife.

So, can I mix a reef safe wrasse and a larger "reef safe with caution" wrasse? Should I introduce together or put the reef safe in first? Any suggestions on a "reef safe with caution" wrasse that won't pulverize an entire CUC and then go lights out at 7pm?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[downbeach]

Flasher's and/or Fairies, would be a consideration.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/ht/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/hcs3/index.php

 

[Ostara]

For a larger wrasse, have you looked at the Halichoeres group? I recently did the exact same thing, choosing a few flashers and fairies as well as some others for my tank. I found that I really like the halichoeres fish. Most seem to be in the 5-7" range and they eat flatworms and other pests, though they may also eat featherdusters and shrimp.

My favorite is probably the Adorned wrasse (H. cosmetes). I think the subtle, iridescent colors are stunning.

I liked all these too, but only chose a couple. :worried:
Two-Toned (H. prosopeion)
Dusky (H. annularis)
Radiant (H. iridis)
Grey-Head (H. leucurus)
Hoeven's/Melanurus (H. melanurus)
Vrolik's (H. chrysotaenia)

There are even more listed under the "Non-Reef Safe Wrasses" section of LiveAquaria (I think all are listed as "with caution"). Anampses twistii is another gorgeous fish, though apparently it might nip clams. I love the coloration; the small blue spots on the deep purple look like stars in a night sky to me.

Good luck deciding! I had a heck of a time narrowing my list down once I found so many options.

 

[mastersonr]

For a larger wrasse, have you looked at the Halichoeres group? I recently did the exact same thing, choosing a few flashers and fairies as well as some others for my tank. I found that I really like the halichoeres fish. Most seem to be in the 5-7" range and they eat flatworms and other pests, though they may also eat featherdusters and shrimp.

My favorite is probably the Adorned wrasse (H. cosmetes). I think the subtle, iridescent colors are stunning.

I liked all these too, but only chose a couple. :worried:
Two-Toned (H. prosopeion)
Dusky (H. annularis)
Radiant (H. iridis)
Grey-Head (H. leucurus)
Hoeven's/Melanurus (H. melanurus)
Vrolik's (H. chrysotaenia)

There are even more listed under the "Non-Reef Safe Wrasses" section of LiveAquaria (I think all are listed as "with caution"). Anampses twistii is another gorgeous fish, though apparently it might nip clams. I love the coloration; the small blue spots on the deep purple look like stars in a night sky to me.

Good luck deciding! I had a heck of a time narrowing my list down once I found so many options.

Thanks for the info. I really do like the halichoeres wrasses. Perfect size that I am looking for and great colors. The only thing is all of them require a 2-3" sandy bottom which leads me to believe they will bury themselves for the night. Is this the case? What is the typical lights out time for this genus?

 

[guidedbyechoes]

Thanks for the info. I really do like the halichoeres wrasses. Perfect size that I am looking for and great colors. The only thing is all of them require a 2-3" sandy bottom which leads me to believe they will bury themselves for the night. Is this the case? What is the typical lights out time for this genus?

Mine usually goes to bed at about 8:30. So it's out for about 13 hours a day.

 

[owen386]

Just got a Green Choris Wrasse

Straight lime green color Threw out IMO Beautiful fish

Also in the Tank is a melanus wrasse also a beautiful fish

Both kept in a reef tank with clams, tho the green choris just today.
melanus does not touch anything.

 

[flfireman1]

Thanks for the info. I really do like the halichoeres wrasses. Perfect size that I am looking for and great colors. The only thing is all of them require a 2-3" sandy bottom which leads me to believe they will bury themselves for the night. Is this the case? What is the typical lights out time for this genus?

I have in my display a yellow coris wrasse, a gray head wrasse, dusky wrasse, radiant wrasse and a pair of Leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris). They all get along beautifully and no issues what so ever between them. They will adjust to your light schedule and mine go to bed at 9:00 pm when the lights shut off and are up by 10 or 11.

They Halichoeres species are hardy and easily adapt to the aquarium. Macropharyngodon species are a little harder to get eating and finding a good healthy specimen might prove difficult but not impossible.

 

[mclain75]

We absolutely love our Leopard Wrasse, yes they need a sand bed and our girl goes to bed around 7:50-8pm like clockwork everyday. I bought her specifically to keep my corals clean and she has done a wonderful job at that! I have her in the DSB with our Clownfish pair and she's compatible with everyone. There's more info on this site if you're interested: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/hcs3/index.php

Good luck deciding!

{Mrs. McLain75}

 

[reefjunkie42]

i would keep fairys first. then some flashers. If you must have a halichoeres wrasse choose one and be done. As for ampanese they are very hard to keep alive. same for leopards. So move with caution. also you will come to love the displaying of fairys. nothing like it IMO and IME

 

[Hzuiel]

Does anyone know if the smaller wrasse like yellow banded possum wrasse and white banded possum wrasse, will clean the tank of worms? I only have a 20g tank so I can't get a bigger wrasse...well i don't think i can. A sixline is pushing it pretty far.

 

[mastersonr]

i would keep fairys first. then some flashers. If you must have a halichoeres wrasse choose one and be done. As for ampanese they are very hard to keep alive. same for leopards. So move with caution. also you will come to love the displaying of fairys. nothing like it IMO and IME

So are you saying I should not mix a fairy/flasher with a halichoeres or is that ok to try?

 

[a.browning]

You can definitely mix halichoeres wrasses with fairies and flashers, you just have to avoid certain fish. Every fish is different, but most wrasses mix really well.

If mixing wrasses, avoid the Pseudocheilinus genus. This includes sixline and mystery wrasses. They generally are not friendly to other wrasses, at least not long term. Certain fairies are aggressive, like the whipfin fairy, scott's, red velvet, and roseafascia. Again, this is in general, there are always some variation among fish.

Otherwise, you're pretty open on wrasse mixing options! With fairies and flashers, avoid the really mean ones, and make sure you have only one male of a species per tank. With halichoeres wrasses, I find that they mix great with each other, even the same species depending on the fish. Leopard wrasses mix well with other wrasses, as do tamarins. These guys are harder to keep, however.

I have a christmas, yellow, flavidorsalis fairy, adornatus fairy, female lubbock fairy, meleagris leopard, and a black leopard in my aquarium. No aggression ever, except for a couple days during a new introduction.

 

[mastersonr]

You can definitely mix halichoeres wrasses with fairies and flashers, you just have to avoid certain fish. Every fish is different, but most wrasses mix really well.

If mixing wrasses, avoid the Pseudocheilinus genus. This includes sixline and mystery wrasses. They generally are not friendly to other wrasses, at least not long term. Certain fairies are aggressive, like the whipfin fairy, scott's, red velvet, and roseafascia. Again, this is in general, there are always some variation among fish.

Otherwise, you're pretty open on wrasse mixing options! With fairies and flashers, avoid the really mean ones, and make sure you have only one male of a species per tank. With halichoeres wrasses, I find that they mix great with each other, even the same species depending on the fish. Leopard wrasses mix well with other wrasses, as do tamarins. These guys are harder to keep, however.

I have a christmas, yellow, flavidorsalis fairy, adornatus fairy, female lubbock fairy, meleagris leopard, and a black leopard in my aquarium. No aggression ever, except for a couple days during a new introduction.

Thanks for the reply. If you mix halichoeres wrasses, do they need to be added at the same time or can you add 1 later?

 

[Hzuiel]

Does anyone know if the smaller wrasse like yellow banded possum wrasse and white banded possum wrasse, will clean the tank of worms? I only have a 20 gallon tank so I dont' think i can get a bigger wrasse than those.

 

[29144u]

I've always loved the Choati Leopard

 

[flfireman1]

Does anyone know if the smaller wrasse like yellow banded possum wrasse and white banded possum wrasse, will clean the tank of worms? I only have a 20 gallon tank so I dont' think i can get a bigger wrasse than those.

I dont know that it will, they are very secretive and seldom come out. Even if they did, I wouldnt think they would do a very good job of it since they are rarely out in the open. Get yourself a small yellow coris they are always pretty readily available.

 

[Hzuiel]

I dont know that it will, they are very secretive and seldom come out. Even if they did, I wouldnt think they would do a very good job of it since they are rarely out in the open. Get yourself a small yellow coris they are always pretty readily available.

What does readily available mean? Like they aren't in hiding so they are available to eat works and bad stuff?

 

[Hzuiel]

I guess i'll just air my whole livestock plan so I can get some feedback.

I'm going for Coral, no specific types in mind besides hammer and zoas. I already have some mushrooms and a star polyp that will likely survive to continue inhabiting the aquarium.

Snails and hermits obviously, some in the refugium, some in the display.
2 Peppermint shrimp, probably 1 in the refugium, one in the display.
1 coral banded shrimp.
1 Occelaris clown
1 Red mandarin Dragonet
1 wrasse of some kind to clean rocks.

The yellow wrasse you suggested seems like it has a good temperament to get along with the clown, but gets 5" long and says 50 gallon or bigger aquarium. I have a 20.

Anyway any conflicts in that livestock list as far as anyone is concerned? Any suggestions?

 

[Hzuiel]

I hope it's not considered bad manners around here but...bump.

 

[evolved]

The only wrasse suitable for a 20g is a Pink Streak Wrasse or a Possum Wrasse; that's it.

Readily available means often available. As in they are not hard to find for sale.