Wrasse to eat bugs

[flamron]

Ok, first my spiel, not widely-shared in public but heavily shared privately (most people like to avoid the flames, and I'll probably get flamed here by people. Like everything else, people like to justify what they have done.) Beware of Interceptor. I am with the large crowd that sees no thread of redbugs, but Interceptor has a high frequency of being followed by AEFW in massive attack. There is something, IMHO, that Interceptor kills that keeps AEFW in check. That's my .02. Read, read, read before considering using the stuff. And read on AEFW because 95% of those who have had trouble had recently done Interceptor to kill redbugs, though not a soul has seen redbugs actually kill anything. Since it was not your original question, I'll not reply to the inevitable harsh words that will follow ... but since someone advised you to use the stuff I'd like to save you the pain.

Not trying to flame you ostrow, but here is my two cents on why AEFW seem to be followed by red bugs:

If you have red bugs, then you are clearly not taking the proper precautions and QTing everything you add to your tank. This leads to the possibility of adding unwanted pests into your tanks. FWIW, i had red bugs a couple years ago. Treated with interceptor, and then started dipping everything that went into my system. I discovered flatworms at the beginning of this year. I've done nothing to treat yet, but am testing several things out.

I'm in no way implying that the interceptor kills whatever keeps the AEFW from exploding, population wise, but instead insisting that poor QT procedure is the reason that they exist in our tanks.

With that said, I had great success with a Vrolik's wrasse. I got to the point where I could not blow off flatworms, and everything started to recover nicely. I lost him after three years - he just died and didn't even leave me a note as to why. :wildone:

In the last three weeks, I've seen the AEFW population explode again, and damage is occurring at a phenomenal rate. I have introduced a leopard wrasse (bipartus) to see if he will help eat the flatworms. He actively hunts throughout the day, and does eat the flatworms when I blow them off (but so do my clowns and yellow tang). So hopefully I will see some benefit from him.

I'm currently trying to find another HEALTHY Vrolik's wrasse, but they are difficult to come by. I bought one from Live Aquaria, but it died within three days after addition. It was eating out of my hand, too. Perhaps parasites? I don't know, as I've never QT'ed fish (ironic, huh?). But I'm searching for another - as it will be a fish that I have in every aquarium that I own as long as it is big enough. They are great fish and excellent hunters!

 

[Achilles18]

I would say this wrasse is one of best pests controll in your tank, i called him "leprekon" because his green lolz. i'd find his peacefull towards other its tank mate, but they say it will eat a wild shrimp although i've got pair of skunk cleaner & blood shrimp in my tank. im not pretty sure he will pick on my shrimps, so far now his busy looking for pests & for sure this is better than a 6-hole wrasse. here's the link & by the way i've got pair of dragon pipefish still not helping though a few of my sps colony i see sign of bottom base bleaching looks all my parameter ok not really sure what's causes of this, anyway i would let this wrasse to handle all this business in my tank i'm not a good fan of rx or dipping your corals. i believe doing it that would causes a lot problem with your corals of stressing out, i'd just let the nature in my tank will resolved all the problem....like my "leprekon wrasse" or " green lanter" lolz here's the link of my wrasse.http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+331&pcatid=331
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+331&pcatid=331

 

[SmyrnaReefer]

i currently have a melanarus and a 4-line wrasse. would adding a radiant wrasse be a problem. i have a standard 125gal so there is plenty of room for another, just now sure if it would get picked on...thoughts? reason for adding another wrasse would be to help me get rid of the monti killers. is the radiant wrasse the only wrasse known to eat these nudibranches??

 

[SmyrnaReefer]

anyone?

 

[MammothReefer]

I have a melanarus, a 6 line, 2 coris (1 yellow and 1 green). They seem to always be on the hunt. My AEFWs have gone undetectable for a few months now, but as I stated in another thread I can't pin point the exact cause with 100% accuracy at this time. I did have a few more wrasses as it was a bit of a last ditch effort of mine to get rid of the AEFW..but sadly 1 jumped, and the other vanished. (I the green coris wrasse was very territorial for the few couple months)

 

[csmfish]

Trick is, make sure you are getting a Cosmetus and not a Claudia or a Melanarus. There are clear markings on the Cosmetus, but stores big and small and distributors often confuse these three. The others will control some of these pests as well, but only the Cosmetus clearly eats AEFW off of the corals.

Could you please elaborate on the exact specifics? Us laymen term challenged people need all the help we can get in picking the right wrasse.

 

[ostrow]

Could you please elaborate on the exact specifics? Us laymen term challenged people need all the help we can get in picking the right wrasse.

Not sure what you are asking. Halichoeres Cosmetus a.k.a. Cosmetus Wrasse or Adorned Wrasse is what I was referring to. H. Melanarus and H. Claudia won't eat AEFW.

 

[ostrow]

My point was, redbugs are harmless and all my corals were just fine, thriving, colorful, growing rapidly.

So, treating for redbugs was stupid.

And I had not added a coral in 7 months.

Not trying to flame you ostrow, but here is my two cents on why AEFW seem to be followed by red bugs:

If you have red bugs, then you are clearly not taking the proper precautions and QTing everything you add to your tank. This leads to the possibility of adding unwanted pests into your tanks. FWIW, i had red bugs a couple years ago. Treated with interceptor, and then started dipping everything that went into my system. I discovered flatworms at the beginning of this year. I've done nothing to treat yet, but am testing several things out.

I'm in no way implying that the interceptor kills whatever keeps the AEFW from exploding, population wise, but instead insisting that poor QT procedure is the reason that they exist in our tanks.

With that said, I had great success with a Vrolik's wrasse. I got to the point where I could not blow off flatworms, and everything started to recover nicely. I lost him after three years - he just died and didn't even leave me a note as to why. :wildone:

In the last three weeks, I've seen the AEFW population explode again, and damage is occurring at a phenomenal rate. I have introduced a leopard wrasse (bipartus) to see if he will help eat the flatworms. He actively hunts throughout the day, and does eat the flatworms when I blow them off (but so do my clowns and yellow tang). So hopefully I will see some benefit from him.

I'm currently trying to find another HEALTHY Vrolik's wrasse, but they are difficult to come by. I bought one from Live Aquaria, but it died within three days after addition. It was eating out of my hand, too. Perhaps parasites? I don't know, as I've never QT'ed fish (ironic, huh?). But I'm searching for another - as it will be a fish that I have in every aquarium that I own as long as it is big enough. They are great fish and excellent hunters!

 

[csmfish]

"There are clear markings on the Cosmetus"

What markings, a tramp stamp, black light club stamp, baseball player autograph, FDA seal of approval????


Oh, and I want your clam too!

 

[ostrow]

The lines break at the eye, unlike the Melanarus. Clear, dramatic spots on caudal fin. Delicate orange lines, distinct, on body. Google pics of all 3 and you'll see.

That Vrolik's looks nice. LA says its easy?

"There are clear markings on the Cosmetus"

What markings, a tramp stamp, black light club stamp, baseball player autograph, FDA seal of approval????


Oh, and I want your clam too!

 

[MammothReefer]

Not sure what you are asking. Halichoeres Cosmetus a.k.a. Cosmetus Wrasse or Adorned Wrasse is what I was referring to. H. Melanarus and H. Claudia won't eat AEFW.

I disagree, I've seen my H. Melanarus eat AEFW when I still was able to find them in my tank. I'm not going to get into the "red bug keep away aefw debate" Do I think red bugs are as harmful as some people make them out to be no.. but there is no way I can agree with you on this point.

 

[ostrow]

You are right MammothReefer. Sorry, I was too categorical.

Those other species will not reliably eat AEFW off of the corals. They will eat them if you blow them off the corals, and some individuals no doubt will pick them off, as is the case with any fish. This based on my owning a Claudia (sent by mistake as a Cosmetus), and reading hundreds of threads about AEFW and Melanarus on several boards.

The Cosmetus Wrasse will reliably eat them off the corals, though as with all such things there will be individuals that will not. This after owning a Cosmetus and reading dozens of threads on boards.

Hope that clarifies.

 

[Helter Skilter]

I had two Halichoeres chrysus that spent all day grazing on AEFW and IMO the best for controlling AEFW (I haven't kept a cosmetus so I can't compare them). They did a much better job of it than my melanarous or Radiant ever did. I had thought for a while that they had eliminated my AEFW for a while, but after they came back after one of the yellow coris jumped and the other ended up in my fuge. I will agree with Ostrow on the Radiant being the best for controlling Monti Nudis, though.

To answer a previous question, as of yet, no one has seen or studied AEFW in the wild. The last time I communicated with Dr. Rawlinson (the biologist that described AEFW), she was looking for funding in order to do so. On a side note, while I respectfuly disagree with Ostrow's conclusion that AEFW and Red bug are related, I did mention it to Dr. Rawlinson a few months ago. She said she would be looking into it.

 

[ostrow]

I believe I said either redbugs control AEFW or something else does that interceptor wipes out.

I certainly never meant to imply that I expected a radiant to eat them. I have thebradiant for my montis!

Never heard anyone report a chrysus eating AEFW off the acros. Cool! Green or yellow Helter?

 

[Helter Skilter]

Forgive me Ostrow, I paraphrase. The possibilty of Intercepter killing something besides Red Bug that keeps the AEFW in check was also mentioned to Dr. Rawlinson.

I was just agreeing with you regarding Radiants and Monti Nudis. I did not mean to imply that they would eat anything else.

The H. chrysus are the yellow ones. Green Coris are Halichoeres chloropterus.