new vrolik's wrasse

[Nina51]

arrived from LA today. he's gorgeous and huge, 3"+! i found a piece of live rock in my sump that had some flat worms so put that in qt and he picked it clean. gonna try some mysis tonight. it's hard to get a good pic, he won't stay still!
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/wrasse_zps547cd0f8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/wrasse_zps547cd0f8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo wrasse_zps547cd0f8.jpg"/></a>

 

[formsix]

very nice!!

 

[Nina51]

he's out and eating. gave him a couple of NLS pellets and he scarfed those down so gave him a little mysis. nom nom!
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/20141121_164932_zps6304db0b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/20141121_164932_zps6304db0b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20141121_164932_zps6304db0b.jpg"/></a>

 

[hogfanreefer]

Mine is my favorite fish. He was about the size of yours when I got him from DD about a year ago. Eats anything, doesn't bother anyone and doesn't take any crap off of anyone. Now he's almost 5"

 

[Deinonych]

Gorgeous!

 

[Fish Biscuit]

Congrats Nina, he's quite handsome

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Very nice wrasse

 

[Nina51]

very pretty, hogfan! i'm amazed at how many different colors are in one fish!

after seeing the size of this guy, i was worried that the pile of sand i put at one end of the tank wouldn't be deep enough. didn't want to add more and cloud the water up so i left it alone. he's nowhere to be seen this morning (yes, i have a tight cover on my qt) so i guess it was enough for him to bury himself.

 

[SDguy]

Quite beastly! And beautiful

 

[Nina51]

last night, it took him about 9 seconds to figure out how to eat from the syringe. **happy dance**

 

[hogfanreefer]

It's surprising how little sand it takes for them to be happy. They seem to be very smart and very inquisitive. Anything new that get's put in the tank is thoroughly checked out for pods before any other fish is allowed to get near it. Quite comical anytime a new frag goes in. Tons of personality to go with all their beauty. You're gonna love yours.

 

[Nina51]

awesome! i noticed that last night...every time i got near the qt, he swam to the front to investigate. gotta love a fish with lots of personality! i can't say that to non-reefers because they look at my like i've suddenly grown another head.

eta: good morning, RC!!!
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/haha_zps5144e179.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/haha_zps5144e179.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo haha_zps5144e179.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/smilies/roflmao.gif.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/smilies/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt=" photo roflmao.gif"/></a>

 

[lhm nole]

awesome fish at first glance thought it was a melanarus

 

[Nina51]

several times now, i have caught him with just his head sticking out of the sand. he looks around, decides it's ok and zooms to the front of the tank while i'm trying to capture a picture before he emerges. LOL

 

[hogfanreefer]

awesome fish at first glance thought it was a melanarus

Pretty sure at one time they were considered a color variation of melanurus.

 

[HPark]

several times now, i have caught him with just his head sticking out of the sand. he looks around, decides it's ok and zooms to the front of the tank while i'm trying to capture a picture before he emerges. LOL

Haha - that's great. What shop did you grab him from?

Edit: reason I ask - I see many melanarus but never any vrolik's

 

[Nina51]

LA=live aquaria. the only lfs anywhere near me never carries anything like this. in fact, i think the only wrasses i've ever seen in there have been 6 lines.

 

[Yogre]

Beautiful fish, Nina.

How fine is the sand you have in there for him, is it sugar fine sand?

I'd love to have a fish like this but I'm afraid my sand is too coarse.

 

[Nina51]

hey marty, nice to see ya! yes, the sand is sugar fine. that's why i didn't want to add more, i knew it would cloud the tank no matter how much i rinsed it. he's fine with what he has, it's maybe 1" deep in the corner.

this guy is a voracious eater and he's leaving "logs" behind as big as a beagle!

 

[evolved]

Beautiful fish, Nina.

How fine is the sand you have in there for him, is it sugar fine sand?

I'd love to have a fish like this but I'm afraid my sand is too coarse.

It doesn't need to be sugar sand by any means. 2-3mm should be fine.
What you don't want is something as coarse as, or approaching that of, crushed coral which lends well to causing cuts/abrasions on the fish. This can lead to bacterial infections.