Do flasher wrasse eat amphipods?

[CindyKz]

That’s what I’m a tad worried about, I only have 65g display, 100g total volume. Is this adequate space for the larger wrasse?

I'm not sure. I usually go by Live Aquaria's recommended tank sizes. I think an H. Chrysis (yellow) wrasse would work. I had my H. Melanarus in a 75 gal with my fairy and flasher and they did ok, but the melanarus seemed big for the tank. I don't think he would have done well in a smaller tank. I didn't have the yellow wrasse at that time.

 

[Brew12]

Excellent suggestions, thanks a ton for these. I’ll look into them later today. I take it the hog fish and H. Wrasse will consume more amphipods per day than a pipefish? They will also scavenge directly on the rocks as well?

I would assume the consume more than a pipefish. The small mouth of a pipefish would make it difficult to eat larger amphipods so while that may work long term it may be quite awhile before you see a reduction in larger amphipods.

My yellow wrasse almost exclusively grazes pods off of rocks. The only time I ever see it eat the frozen I feed my tank is when it is blowing around on the substrate.

I'm not knowledgeable enough on the hogfish, but I assume they are rock grazers, also. All I really know is that it seems to have worked very well for a few people in a similar position to yours where amphipods were eating coral.

 

[nereefpat]

I agree that H. chrysus is what you want.

 

[living_tribunal]

I really appreciate the suggestions everyone. I think the H. Wrasse is the answer. I may honestly acquire a pipe fish today since they don’t require quarantine and it can at least help with the situation short-term while I prepare qt for the additional wrasse.

I’ll just need to make sure my tank size and additional tank mates (2 clowns, mccoskers flasher wrasse, and tailspot) will be fine for the new wrasse.

Thanks again.

 

[Brew12]

I really appreciate the suggestions everyone. I think the H. Wrasse is the answer. I may honestly acquire a pipe fish today since they don’t require quarantine and it can at least help with the situation short-term while I prepare qt for the additional wrasse.

I’ll just need to make sure my tank size and additional tank mates (2 clowns, mccoskers flasher wrasse, and tailspot) will be fine for the new wrasse.

Thanks again.

What are you worried about that you use QT to prevent but that you don't fear from a pipefish?

 

[living_tribunal]

What are you worried about that you use QT to prevent but that you don't fear from a pipefish?

According to humblefish, pipefish will hardly ever carry parasites or disease. He never medicates his and only performs observation as the only thing they are prone to is bacteria. So I’d be able to probably get away with placing this fish in an unmedicated tank for two week observation. I unfortunately need something rather fast as the tissue on select corals is going fast.


If worse comes to worst, I can place some unsecured frags back in my frag tank but I can’t do that with most. Just trying to buy tim.

 

[CindyKz]

I There was some angst among the wrasses when I added a Mckoskers to my established Melanarus and fairy wrasse. Using an acclimation box was very helpful.

 

[living_tribunal]

I There was some angst among the wrasses when I added a Mckoskers to my established Melanarus and fairy wrasse. Using an acclimation box was very helpful.

I’ll be doing the inverse: starting with a mccoskers and potentially adding the coris. Any difference?

 

[CindyKz]

I’ll be doing the inverse: starting with a mccoskers and potentially adding the coris. Any difference?

My yellow coris is more aggressive than my flashers but they were added to the tank together. I would use a box just to be safe and avoid headaches personally.

ETA: the word "agressive" is relative. I wouldnt call either an "agressive" fish at all.

 

[living_tribunal]

My yellow coris is more aggressive than my flashers but they were added to the tank together. I would use a box just to be safe and avoid headaches personally.

ETA: the word "agressive" is relative. I wouldnt call either an "agressive" fish at all.

I’m sure both are quite tame compared to something like a pink face

 

[living_tribunal]

So I purchased a banded pipe fish today (wicked cool) and brought him home. Then I panned over to my tank only to see my flasher wrasse sniping amphipods off of the rocks.

I think the pipe fish and flasher wrasse will be a nice combo and keep balance. They won’t annihilate an amphipod population but most likely keep it in check.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll get to enjoy how clean the amphipods keep my tank without them demolishing corals?

 

[cboltsd01]

Try a Mandarin Goby. They will scour the rock work and will completely ignore any wrasses in your tank.

 

[living_tribunal]

Try a Mandarin Goby. They will scour the rock work and will completely ignore any wrasses in your tank.

Eh, that mandarin will consume every pod in a week and then starve to death. I was planning on getting a mandarin a few months from now after keeping a few cultures up and running but I haven’t started those so it’s definitely not a good time.

Since I now have a wrasse and a pipe fish, I don’t think I’ll get one for this tank unless something changes.

 

[Crabby48]

@living_tribunal i added amphipods from Ipsf and they multiplied fast. I added a melanurus that lived on them until he wipes them out. Unfortunately shortly after he became nasty and had to go. 5 months later and my tank is full of them again.

 

[Crabby48]

My mandarin and dragon face pipe fish did not eat them that I see

 

[living_tribunal]

@living_tribunal i added amphipods from Ipsf and they multiplied fast. I added a melanurus that lived on them until he wipes them out. Unfortunately shortly after he became nasty and had to go. 5 months later and my tank is full of them again.

They really do populate like nothing else. I have amphipod eggs all over my tank glass right now.

I think taking the balanced approach will work our best. A flasher wrasse and pipe fish probably won’t kill them all off but just keep them in check.

 

[living_tribunal]

My mandarin and dragon face pipe fish did not eat them that I see

Some of them get so big that I can’t see how their small mouths would. The smaller ones get into crevices so fast as well. I’m just happy the flasher is doing some rock work. It must have been too much free food for him to ignore.

 

[Crabby48]

Some of them get so big that I can’t see how their small mouths would. The smaller ones get into crevices so fast as well. I’m just happy the flasher is doing some rock work. It must have been too much free food for him to ignore.

I think most are to big for them to eat also. the melanurus would eat and spit some of the bigger ones. I have a a lineatus that eats them as snacks and some times I’ll see the long nose hawk Picking at rocks but amohipods are still growing in numbers.
Not a terrible problem to have I guess as long as they don’t out compete the copepods

 

[living_tribunal]

I think most are to big for them to eat also. the melanurus would eat and spit some of the bigger ones. I have a a lineatus that eats them as snacks and some times I’ll see the long nose hawk Picking at rocks but amohipods are still growing in numbers.
Not a terrible problem to have I guess as long as they don’t out compete the copepods

my amphipods completely annihilated my copepods. It only takes them about 3-4 weeks to run through a new 4000-5000 copepod order. That may be why they started attacking corals. I also cut back on my coral feeding which could have stirred up this behavior as well.

 

[Crabby48]

my amphipods completely annihilated my copepods. It only takes them about 3-4 weeks to run through a new 4000-5000 copepod order. That may be why they started attacking corals. I also cut back on my coral feeding which could have stirred up this behavior as well.

Good luck. I need to watch mine more closely and see if they are why some corals seem sad lately. You have taught me something that I would have never guessed