Wrasse question

[Yonp11]

What reef safe wrasses are better known for their pest eating abilities?? (flat worms, red bugs etc). I know a lot of the more aggressive hunter wrasses also eat snails, I want to avoid that.

I'd like a wrasse that will do a good job at eating pests if they're present, but not decimate my CUC. Any suggestions? I've heard Leopard and Yellow Coris as suggestions. I've been told Melanurus will hunt snails so that's off the list. Any others? How about the colorful fairy wrasses like McCoskers or Carpenters?

This is for a 93gal cube with sand and lots of rockwork.

Thanks!

 

[evolved]

What reef safe wrasses are better known for their pest eating abilities?? (flat worms, red bugs etc). I know a lot of the more aggressive hunter wrasses also eat snails, I want to avoid that.

Those are, unfortunately, mutually inclusive.

Wrasses of the Halichoeres genus will best serve for pest duty, but they all come with the caveat that they will occasionally pick on your desirable motile inverts too (crabs and/or snails).

 

[Jasanden]

Halichores Biocelatus or red lined wrasse is one of the smaller wrasses in that group. My experience with them is that they leave most inverts alone. I'm not sure I would add shrimp with any established halichores wrasse though.

 

[scooter31707]

True. I have notice if I don't feed them twice a day, he tends to start messing with my hermits and snails, but they go in their shell and he leaves them alone.

 

[Reef908]

I have had both Melanurus and Adorned (Halichoeres cosmetus) wrasses and neither has bothered my crabs, shrimp or snails that I have noticed. However, you will see considerably less pods on your rocks, at least in my experience.

 

[Yonp11]

Thanks for the responses guys. Looks like everyone has a different experience, which makes sense.
Looks like I'll be deciding between a Fairy/Flasher wrasse and expect subpar pest control or a Halichoeres like mentioned for a better hunter.

 

[evolved]

a Fairy/Flasher wrasse and expect subpar pest control

Worse than sub-par in that sense; rather more like zero.

As strictly zooplankton feeders, they do not pick at any substrate for food.