Christmas wrasse

Pfisherman · Dec 19, 2015

I have a Christmas wrasse in my reef and it keeps me free of many pests, I also believe it thinned out my cuc over the past year. I haven't ever had a cleaner shrimp in this tank but would really like one or more when I do my upgrade. Will it survive or become the meal of a lifetime for my finned friend?

Shep · Dec 19, 2015

Shrimp should be fine, the wrasse will not get large enough to bother it

WAfrican · Dec 20, 2015

Depends on the shrimp size and the wrasse's temperament. It may be hard since the wrasse went into the tank first but possible.

eatbreakfast · Dec 20, 2015

First of all it really depends on which exact species of 'Christmas wrasse' you have. There are a handful around the hobby that go by that name. One, a Thalassoma species, will most definitely eat your shrimp. Halichoeres ornatissimus will likely eat it once it gets big enough. H. claudia may or may not eat your shrimp. And H. biocellatus may wat your shrimp, but probably won't.

DeniseAndy · Dec 20, 2015

I have a christmas wrasse, and did not even think about an issue with shrimp. However, I have not been able to keep skunk cleaners or peppermints in the main display. I have a 6 year old blood red (but has been with me long before the H. claudia). I never thought that the fish was the issue, but could be very wrong I guess. My girl is a good 6" now. Maybe that is where my shrimp keep going.

I have no idea really. Skunks last maybe a year or so and the peppermint, I have no idea as I never see them once added even at night. I should film the tank when I add my new peppermints and find out.

Triggreef · Dec 20, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
First of all it really depends on which exact species of 'Christmas wrasse' you have. There are a handful around the hobby that go by that name. One, a Thalassoma species, will most definitely eat your shrimp. Halichoeres ornatissimus will likely eat it once it gets big enough. H. claudia may or may not eat your shrimp. And H. biocellatus may wat your shrimp, but probably won't.

Yep, this... Also if you add any shrimp do it at night while the wrasse is/are buried and you shouldn't have a problem.

I have some big wrasse in my tank, and adding shrimp at night works out just fine. I have some peppermints, coral banded, and one cleaner. I did add some peppermints during the day one time since there are already some in the tank that they leave alone. That was a mistake. Night time only.

evolved · Dec 21, 2015

DeniseAndy said:
(but has been with me long before the H. claudia). I never thought that the fish was the issue, but could be very wrong I guess. My girl is a good 6" now.

Are you sure it's claudia? At 6"+ it may not be.