Wrasses in a Shallow Tank

[Tabatha]

I would like to keep a pair of Leopard Wrasses and a pair or trio of Flasher Wrasses in our (future) shallow reef tank; 48 x 30 x 18. My husband doesn't want any wrasses b/c he's read they jump but I've seen so many in other's shallow reefs.

Please weigh in, do you have wrasses in your shallow reef tank (no lid or mesh)? If so, please let us know what kind of wrasses and dimensions of tank and how long you've had them.

Many thanks for your input!

Tabatha

 

[bradleyj]

There is no dought... Sooner or later, they Will jump and you will have one less fish. I wish I could tell you what you want to hear, but there really is no way to keep them from jumping .

 

[Tabatha]

I have not yet read that Leopard Wrasses jump... have you had any experience with these?

 

[bradleyj]

You do have a better chance with the leopards, but I'm sure if they are harrassed by any other fish they do what comes natural to them and that is to jump to escape.

This pic shows my potters wrasse, bottom left.

 

[Tabatha]

Your tank (and fish) are stunning!!

 

[Tabatha]

Here's a pic of our tank in August, a little has changed but not much. We added a feather star which seems to be doing quite well!

 

[snorvich]

bradleyj is right (I love your tank bradleyj, you should have given us a full tank shot)

 

[Tabatha]

Our 112g shallow tank build is here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1548104

 

[MattL]

Wrasses will jump, although this problem can be solved with a canopy or mesh cover system.

Also, be sure to read the Leopard Wrasse primer stickied at the top of this forum.

Matt

 

[bradleyj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14122699#post14122699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
bradleyj is right (I love your tank bradleyj, you should have given us a full tank shot)

Thank you Steve.
Here are a couple I just took to show a friend of mine what's under the hood.

Tabitha, Your tank looks very nice also.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks!

 

[iamwrasseman]

most wrasses will jump but you have a good chance that the leopards wont . real touchy though ,if there is any people traffic close by it still might spook the leopards .any of my wrasses that attempt to fly do so at night or early in the morning . the morning is when they will get spooked but walking past the tank . i havent ever lost a leopard that had leaped they usually go downward when spooket to burrow into the sand . good luck

 

[Tabatha]

Thanks wrasseman, I appreciate your opinion, the decision is still up in the air. Our LFS has tanks the same size as the one we have on order, he keeps wrasses of all kinds, in all of them.

Another fish I'm investigating (for the new tank) is a scopas tang.

 

[iamwrasseman]

its touchy with them some are spooked real easy,thats why scotts always bruise up their snout mouth area . but i havent seen that displayed in the leopards . by the way your tank looks awesome ,really like it a lot !

 

[Tabatha]

Thanks Wrasseman, it's more colourful in person, the photo looks a little dull. We do like the tank but hate getting my arm pits wet every time I try to work in it, that's why we're having a shallow reef made. I'm just really sad about the wrasse situation, they're so varied and interesting!

 

[iamwrasseman]

i like shallow tanks too

 

[bradleyj]

The wrasse mesh top really doesn't destract from the beauty of the open top. IMO. My tank is a braceless open top and I dont feel it takes anything away from the looks of the tank. They are very easy to build and inexpensive Tabatha.

 

[iamwrasseman]

nice idea there looks very functional .

 

[bradleyj]

 

[bradleyj]

The mesh is UV rated for the sun outdoors, so the metal halides and heat does not effect it whatsoever. It is also thread thin, so the light penetration remains the same as no cover.