New Wrasse

[Dangerwill]

I bought this fish as a Christmas Wrasse. What kind of Christmas wrasse is he though?

 

[rapture]

its a Merry Christmas Wrasse

 

[tanksfishtank]

Maybe a Very Merry Christmas wrasse!?!

 

[Anthrax15]

It looks like a Halichoeres ornatissumus

 

[Dangerwill]

It looks like a Halichoeres ornatissumus

Thats kind of what I was thinking though I was hoping I was wrong. I havnt read a lot of nice things about these guys but he seems pretty laid back so far

 

[Anthrax15]

I actually just picked up one a couple weeks ago. Never seen em before for sale or much info on them. So far, so good. Beautiful fish, doesn't bother hermits, snails, sensitive crabs, coral, or a very docile Scooter Blenny.

What are the bad things you've read about them?

 

[Dangerwill]

I read that they are great fish until they get to adult size around 6 inches and can be bullys but I have also read just as many accounts that they are model citizens that wouldnt nip a sleeping hermit crab, I guess thats true for most fish.

They are cool looking fish and great swimmers

 

[Anthrax15]

Yeah I like mine a lot. Im going to be adding another wrasse or two so Im a little concerned how they will interact.

Mine actually has an underbite and messed up eye but still acts normal!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthrax15/10162173105/" title="IMG_9137 by Anthrax15, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/10162173105_4b7fec3782_z.jpg" width="640" height="261" alt="IMG_9137"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthrax15/10162069634/" title="IMG_9116 by Anthrax15, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5465/10162069634_98f41fcc7a_z.jpg" width="640" height="371" alt="IMG_9116"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthrax15/10162177995/" title="IMG_9114 by Anthrax15, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/10162177995_b03b9f64db_z.jpg" width="503" height="640" alt="IMG_9114"></a>

 

[Dangerwill]

I have mine with a yellow coris wrasse and a melanarus wrasse and they all get along pretty well. All are peaceful and reef safe. They eat play and swim all day and are sleeping by 6pm. I would strongly recommend using an aclimation box to get them used to each other for a couple of days. I picked up a plastic critter tank from petsmart for 12 bucks and I stuck it to the side of my display with the cleaning magnets. An inch of sand in the bottom so they could sleep and hide.

 

[Anthrax15]

I'll be damned...the moment I post on here saying my Wrasse has been okay, he starts swooping down on my Scooter...Gots ta' go...

 

[evolved]

It looks like a Halichoeres ornatissumus

H. ornatissimus is correct.

Thats kind of what I was thinking though I was hoping I was wrong. I havnt read a lot of nice things about these guys but he seems pretty laid back so far

Yeah... not the best Halichoeres "christmas" wrasse for a reef tank. What you've read is true; he'll reach 7" and will be temperamental at best when mature.

I HATE common names, and (unfortunately) this is a perfect example of why. There are at least 3 Halichoeres wrasses which get labeled as "Christmas wrasse"; none of them have the same demeanor.

H. biocellatus is the "Christmas" best suited for a reef tank, and H. claudia isn't too far behind (the real Christmas wrasse, at least to me).

What are the bad things you've read about them?

I told you before! They're definitely not what I'd call a "peaceful" species.

Mine actually has an underbite and messed up eye but still acts normal!

Not an under-bite actually, but rather the upper jaw was damaged. Likely due to smashing into a bag or a holding tank at some point during collection and/or transit.

 

[Dangerwill]

I hate the thought of trying to catch this guy in a 210 g obstacle course. I predict that this is going to be messy

Good looking fish though and fun too watch swim.