Yellow coris or melanurus?

[LSUJosh]

I have a 115g 6 foot tank that is currently stocked with 2 clowns, 5 chromis and a yellow tang. I have a quite a few flatworms and I want to get either a yellow coris or melanurus wrasse to keep their population in check. I don't care about totally eradicate them, just don't want things to get out of hand with them. From what I have read it looks like these two are the best cases for possible flatworm feeders. My question is which of these would be better in a reef system? I have 1 cleaner right now and plan on getting a few more cleaners and possibly a few peppermints but I don't want them to just be expensive snacks for the wrasse. I also plan on having a pair of flasher wrasse in the future, what do you think would be my best choice between the yellow coris and the melanurus?

 

[reefnrod]

i have no expeience with melanurus, but the yellow coris wrasse is not a coris wrasse at all it is a canary wrasse. i put my canary wrasse in when i had a problem with red planeria flat worms. the wrasse did not leave the rock that had the infestation until the problem was totally eradicated. i have my canary wrasse in the tank with a pair of blood red fire shrimp and to pepermint. i have never even seen them look at eachother.

 

[reefnrod]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/halichoeres.htm





Halichoeres chrysus Randall 1981 (1), is a fish of two "good" and one bad common name. It should be called the Golden or Canary Wrasse for its bright bold sun-yellow color, but is most often listed as the Yellow Coris Wrasse (Arggghhh!, it is not a Coris genus member of course). This is an exemplary aquarium species that is suitable for peaceful fish-only and reef systems. To a mere 4 inches or so total length. Aquarium juv. (and adult below) & S. Sulawesi photos. Eastern Indian Ocean distribution. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=4855&genusname=Halichoeres&s peciesname=chrysus

 

[MCCOOL]

Yes, both are halichoeres wrasses. Either should be fine, though the peppermints might become a meal.

 

[SiPhu]

I had both and the canary wrasse never touched any of my peppermint shrimps or other inverts. The melanurus wrasse on the other hand took out 2 peppermint shrimps and a bite out of my clam.

 

[el aguila]

My Melanarus Wrasse has taken out most snails and my two cleaners that were in the tank before he was, beautiful active fish though.

 

[LSUJosh]

Well I am leaning towards a pair of the canaries. I am not too worried if they eat the peppermints at some point, there is just a few aptasia I would like them to hit first hopefully lol.

 

[Bucket Boy]

I have kept several canary wrasses. All model citizens -- very active, ate with gusto, never bothered the inverts. Only issue is they tend to not ship well, so buy them at the LFS.

 

[small alien]

From what I've read, canaries are a lot easier on your clean up crew. And that bright yellow is stunning in the tank. I can see mine through the window from across the street.

 

[betamed]

I have both. The yellow wrasse is a bit better behaved, but both are great fish. I had a pair of yellows before the male jumped. they paired in the tank and the male developed pink and green bands on his head.

 

[djze]

i have had a canary yellow for over 2 years never bothered any invert and loves to swim he was the only wrasse for over a year when i introduced some other wrasses he didn't even look great fish and once they mature there colors really stand out

 

[LSUJosh]

I have kept several canary wrasses. All model citizens -- very active, ate with gusto, never bothered the inverts. Only issue is they tend to not ship well, so buy them at the LFS.

I am getting them from a LFS that is about 2 hours drive from me, they are overnighting them to me so hopefully they do well.

 

[znotch]

My Melanurus is extremely aggressive to the other wrasses I have in my tank. If I could catch him, I would take him out and try to sell him locally. I think, however, that I just got a "jerk" with a mean personality, and would gladly try again with another one. He is very beautiful and is always constantly looking for food, (he would leave no flatworms alive if I had any) and actively swimming. He doesn't really mess with my inverts, although I have found 2-3 dead Astrea snails in my tank. I have seen him grab my hermit snails and toss them, but he doesn't try to eat them. This is one of the reasons why I've concluded that he is just a jerk. Of your two choices, I'd definitely go with the melanurus, or just get both!