Non jumping wrasse?

reefaroni

New member
I'd love to buy a killer wrasse, but have a rimless tank and every wrasse I like and research I read it's a jumper. Are there any colorful wrasses that are 'safe' for an open top?
 
No, not really. You can put a net top on a rimless tank though. I know it takes away from the appearance a little but its better than finding dried up fish on the floor.
 
No, not really. You can put a net top on a rimless tank though. I know it takes away from the appearance a little but its better than finding dried up fish on the floor.

I know... we've played with different covers, but we just really love the open top, I guess even more than the love of wrasses

No one knows of one? Or are they all just jumpers?
 
Any fish can be a jumper.

Ive seen the most unlikely specimens jump for no reason at all. A Tassel Filefish once jumped from a LFS tank. Wasnt spooked or anything.

Ive seen some very nicely done tops for an open top aquarium. I wouldn't give up on a cover.
 
Any fish can be a jumper.

Ive seen the most unlikely specimens jump for no reason at all. A Tassel Filefish once jumped from a LFS tank. Wasnt spooked or anything.

I've seen frogfish go carpet surfing, so yeah, any fish can be a jumper.

As for wrasses, most of them are pretty significant jumpers, and I wouldn't put one in a tank without a top, unless it's already dead; then it's unlikely to jump.
 
One thought I've had, while I would still recommend a cover, what about Haliochoeres wrasses? While they may still jump for unknown reasons, my guess is if spooked they will dive down into the sand rather than out through the top.

Given the shape of these fish and swimming style I would still think they'd be a risk for jumping though!
 
One thought I've had, while I would still recommend a cover, what about Haliochoeres wrasses? While they may still jump for unknown reasons, my guess is if spooked they will dive down into the sand rather than out through the top.

Given the shape of these fish and swimming style I would still think they'd be a risk for jumping though!

I've had those hit the top, too. If they're closer to the top they'll jump instead of going back down when spooked, and sometimes they hit the top for no reason I could see.
 
One thought I've had, while I would still recommend a cover, what about Haliochoeres wrasses? While they may still jump for unknown reasons, my guess is if spooked they will dive down into the sand rather than out through the top.

Theoretically, that makes sense, but my experience has been similar to LukFox's; they still jump.
 
A halichoeres will wind up on the floor eventually w/an uncovered tank. A leopard is probably about as "safe" as you're gonna get with wrasses, but even then I wouldn't recommend it.
 
I've had those hit the top, too. If they're closer to the top they'll jump instead of going back down when spooked, and sometimes they hit the top for no reason I could see.

Yes, that is true although not easily explainable. I hear mine bouncing off the top all the time.
 
I think it could be that they just don't go under unless they fear for their life due to constant chasing (predator or a net). For all other times like short dominance displays it's easier and more time efficient just to dart out of the way. I never saw an established one hide in the sand from a tank mate or from sudden activity outside the tank (or anything other than nets really), but they would dart or jump in response to these things.
 
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