Yellow wrasse, really reef safe?
- Thread starter 84chris
- Start date
TWallace
New member
I assume you're talking about the Yellow Coris wrasse. Despite the common name, it's not a Coris wrasse, it's a Halichoeres wrasse. I don't have experience with that particular wrasse, but I have experience with a Neon wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti). It prevented me from keeping fire shrimp. It ate the eyes of one, which later died. Other fire shrimp would mysteriously vanish. After I got rid of him, fire shrimp do fine in my tank. The wrasse never bothered cleaner shrimp. My neon wrasse wasn't very big either, only about 4.5 inches. I have read and heard from many people that say the Halichoeres genus of wrasses is usally/almost always reef safe and that they don't bother shrimp.
In the end, I think it's a gamble. At worst, you may lose some shrimp. I'm considering trying a Halichoeres melanurus wrasse in the future, coexisting with fire/cleaner shrimp.
In the end, I think it's a gamble. At worst, you may lose some shrimp. I'm considering trying a Halichoeres melanurus wrasse in the future, coexisting with fire/cleaner shrimp.
Peter Eichler
New member
They're pretty peaceful and can actually be useful for certain pests. The only thing you might have to worry about are smaller than usual shrimp, crabs, or snails. But in general they're great additions to a reef tank. A couple things to be aware of... They can be jumpers so you may want to take precautions to keep him in the tank. Also, they can be a little delicate during shipping and their first few weeks in an aquarium. If they make it through those first few weeks they're generally hardy. That is all with the assumption that you're asking about Halichoeres chrysus.
I've had one for about a year now. I have a Mixed Reef and he is a model citizen. Every once in awhile he will pick at a snail. I have never seen him kill one though... Never has bothered my peppermints which are on the smaller.
You are correct in that they are NOT from the Coris family....
Brad
You are correct in that they are NOT from the Coris family....
Brad
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
many yellow wrasses aren't nearly as reef compatible as Halichoeres chrysus
which "yellow wrasse" are you asking about, Chris?
steelhead97
New member
I had one just as shown and he was safe, very peaceful fish but alas was killed by my damsel. Did not touch the corals.
Mine has been in my system for 14 months with no issues towards other fish or any of my inverts.
I already had a Fire cleaner when the wrasse was introduced but have since added a Skunk cleaner and 4 tiny Sexy shrimp. He definately knows the Sexy shrimp are in the tank but has never paid any attention to them and they are usually out in the open close to or on the edges of the BTA they live in.
He has also been the fastest growing of all my fish.
I already had a Fire cleaner when the wrasse was introduced but have since added a Skunk cleaner and 4 tiny Sexy shrimp. He definately knows the Sexy shrimp are in the tank but has never paid any attention to them and they are usually out in the open close to or on the edges of the BTA they live in.
He has also been the fastest growing of all my fish.
Beach Bum 70
Beach Bum 70
I agree have had mine for about 6 mnths. Great fish does try to jump out from time to time
I'd like to see a pic of it , I had planned on doing a sandbox for mine. We decided to send him to live with a friend instead, wasnt shure it would work out.
I had my yellow wrasse for 8 months he was as reef safe as it gets.
I did find that he was an exeptional pod/worm hunter. He had a high metabolism and pooped alot. I think he was detrimental to my mandarins health, because he really decimated the pod population. since his departure the mandarin is chubby again. He was worse then a sifter goby because he hunted rocks and sand with great skill.
I think they are great fish in a reef otherwise.
bill-fit
New member
My tank is bb. Instead of a sand box I used some rock to section off a small area and filled it with about one and a half inches of crushed coral. I quess its still like a box just looks better.
In my first tank the wrasses could pick between sand ,fine sand, and crushed coral ,eighth inch to quarter inch size, they prefer the crushed coral .
And I am reefering to Halichores melarnus.
I haven't owned the yellow Halichores in the pick above but it sure looks alot like the melarnus. I would try it in a reef tank
In my first tank the wrasses could pick between sand ,fine sand, and crushed coral ,eighth inch to quarter inch size, they prefer the crushed coral .
And I am reefering to Halichores melarnus.
I haven't owned the yellow Halichores in the pick above but it sure looks alot like the melarnus. I would try it in a reef tank
Similar threads
