Which Wrasse??

[apuhl20]

I am looking into a wrasse for my new 180 mixed reef. Is there a specific type that is good at eating sps bugs, flatworms, redbugs, etc? Also, it will be a barebottom tank so I know that eliminates some. So the specifications for it would be:

1-- eats damaging bugs
2-- is reef safe
3-- can live in barebottom

 

[curlykid]

that's a hard one. a sixline may eat bugs but will become a nuisance. you're out of luck considering ur barebottom.

 

[apuhl20]

why do you say they will become a nuisance?

 

[curlykid]

they get agressive to other fish. more than you think. you would have about ten more options if you get sand.....

 

[apuhl20]

there have got to be some options. I have one rock that is kind of a bowl shape. I am thinking about filling it with sand. Not sure how much of a sand bed wrasses need though.

 

[MCCOOL]

A halichoeres species wrasse would be your best bet for pest control, but they require sand.

Chirillabrus and parachellinus species aren't great pest hunters.

Macropharyngodon And anampses species may hunt some pests but require sand and can be delicate.

6-line wrasses will usually eat pests, but like curlykid said, they can be more of a pest than the pests they hunt.

Unfortunately, without sand, your choices are rather limited.

 

[jonathansruelas]

I had a sixline that kept nipping at my blue green chromis and eventually began eating their flesh.. turned out to be the most aggressive fish in my tank

 

[rnscross]

I have seen in barebottom tanks people having a container of sand for their wrasse to sleep in. This is most common in SPS tanks where the flow is very high and the need for pest control is at its greatest. If you work the rock in the right way you wont even see the container.

 

[Borchers]

Place a few pounds of sand in the back of the tank. Behind rock-work. About a few inches 3-4 hidden and your wrasse picks will grow to quite a few.

 

[Borchers]

PS.........Wrasse are jumpers! All of them.

 

[snorvich]

A halichoeres species wrasse would be your best bet for pest control, but they require sand.

Chirillabrus and parachellinus species aren't great pest hunters.

Macropharyngodon And anampses species may hunt some pests but require sand and can be delicate.

6-line wrasses will usually eat pests, but like curlykid said, they can be more of a pest than the pests they hunt.

Unfortunately, without sand, your choices are rather limited.

Excellent advice.

 

[snorvich]

I have seen in barebottom tanks people having a container of sand for their wrasse to sleep in. This is most common in SPS tanks where the flow is very high and the need for pest control is at its greatest. If you work the rock in the right way you wont even see the container.

Good advice. Amazingly they always seem to find the sand.

 

[snorvich]

I had a sixline that kept nipping at my blue green chromis and eventually began eating their flesh.. turned out to be the most aggressive fish in my tank

Unfortunately true as they are excellent pest eaters. They seem to be incompatible with lots of desirable fish.

 

[curlykid]

that's gross, never knew they ate other fish! scary little buggers.

 

[38bill]

If you have lots of LR sand isn't necessary. I have 4 halichoeres and another dozen or so other wrasse all in a bare bottom and they are all fat and happy.

 

[curlykid]

how long have you had them?

 

[38bill]

how long have you had them?

Years.

 

[tcoral]

If you have lots of LR sand isn't necessary. I have 4 halichoeres and another dozen or so other wrasse all in a bare bottom and they are all fat and happy.

+1. used to have sand in the previous tank, but now bb, my wrasses don't miss it (one time tried to put in a bucket of sand to try and trap one, and they ignored it).

 

[betamed]

4 line wrasse
8 line wrasse
mystery wrasse

These might be good choices for wrasses that don't need sand. The 4 lines are not aggressive.

 

[aleonn]

I'd place sand in a small tupperware container, concealed behind your aquascape. Then I'd purchase the halichoeres chrysus (yellow "coris" wrasse) for pest control purposes. He decimated my pest nudibranch population effectively, plus he's a nice bright yellow color .