Ornate/Christmas Wrasse experiences

[orcafood]

I recently purchased a beautiful Christmas wrasse specimen that looks very healthy. It was added to the display yesterday and hasn't been seen since. While I wait, I thought it would be a good idea to ask others on reef central about their experiences with these fish.
thanks

 

[buzzbombtom]

its a wrasse they hide for a few days relax it will turn up. this wrasse like to bury itself into the sand when sleeping or hiding so i would bet it was in your sand somewhere . let it be dont go fishing for him yet it will only stress it out more if you do.

 

[orcafood]

Yeah, I saw it dive into the sand bed myself, and I have heard that they will sometimes stay under the sand for 2-3 days.

Any one have experiences? Things I should be careful or aware of?

 

[Beach Bum 70]

just wait it will pop up it i normal

 

[orcafood]

Well, it came out around 4pm today and stayed out untill 8pm.
I'll try to post a pick of the wrasse later. It has amazing colors.

While he was out, he did make a half attempt at lunging toward a hermit crab, but other then that, no aggression what so ever.

 

[RGBMatt]

Ornate wrasses are beautiful fish, and dead easy to keep. It might try eating some of your smaller crustaceans, but other than that they're pretty well behaved and low maintenance.

 

[dadonoflaw]

its a great fish. doesnt bother my shrimp and between him and the checkerboard my bristleworm population is kept in check. the halichoeres sp. of wrasses is underrated. you will likely not be sorry

 

[orcafood]

dadonoflaw, in you experience, are checkerboard wrasse reef safe?

 

[orcafood]

Well, I have another question. In your experience with the Ornate wrasse, do they consume red planaria? Is there a way to encourage them to eat these flat worms?

 

[orcafood]

Well, here he is.

 

[WuHT]

My christmas wrasse (when i dumped him from the QT to the main tank) was out and about right away.

I do like your christmas wrasse ( a lot more green). Mine has a body that has the dominating red like your specimen's top half.

The reflectively shiny green bands above the eyes are really catchy when they reflect the sun light.