Dusky wrasse

[littlefoxx]

Hey all wondering about dusky wrasses. Still looking for a wrasse for my bigger tank. I did get a dragon wrasse but she ended up DOA. They dont have any more dragon wrasses. So I was looking at a dusky wrasse and a lyertail wrasse (lunare?)

Thalassoma lunare​

For my tanks. I was looking for the lunare to go in my more aggressive tank but also saw a dusky male. Beautiful! Wondering if they would go together well in my large tank, or if the dusky would be okay in my 70 (I have smaller fish so not sure if they would end up a meal?) @Slocke @i cant think any ideas?? Wrasses are so cool and I keep looking at them all and just cant decide on which. Also looked at a red coris or another thalassoma wrasse. They are all beautiful but complicated! Just want to make sure I pick an appropriate one for my tanks. I hate bristleworms and would like one that eats those if possible but their colors are just so mesmerizing!

 

[JoJosReef]

In the meantime, have you tried the panty hose trapping technique? I understand that a piece of table shrimp tied inside of a stocking gets the bristleworms stuck and they can't get off, and you just lift it out in the AM and toss them or euthanize as you see fit.

 

[littlefoxx]

In the meantime, have you tried the panty hose trapping technique? I understand that a piece of table shrimp tied inside of a stocking gets the bristleworms stuck and they can't get off, and you just lift it out in the AM and toss them or euthanize as you see fit.

That would be a great idea if I didnt have triggers and eels that would rip into it lol! I also was looking for a colorful fish for the last edition so I thought two birds one stone! I dont have a lot of the worms but they creep me out when I see them!

 

[JoJosReef]

That would be a great idea if I didnt have triggers and eels that would rip into it lol! I also was looking for a colorful fish for the last edition so I thought two birds one stone! I dont have a lot of the worms but they creep me out when I see them!

Hmm, you could put it into a type of mushroom cage with bigger holes maybe? The bristleworms can get in but the triggers and eels won't--or maybe that'll just drive them nuts! Or maybe use the stocking inside of a bottle? Will the triggers break open a bottle?

 

[littlefoxx]

Hmm, you could put it into a type of mushroom cage with bigger holes maybe? The bristleworms can get in but the triggers and eels won't--or maybe that'll just drive them nuts! Or maybe use the stocking inside of a bottle? Will the triggers break open a bottle?

If there is a shrimp they will 100% try to break into anything to get that shrimp. They go bananas for it, especially my little baby niger trigger who is super food aggressive even as the smallest fish in the tank! I could see him getting into it. Dude broke my acclimation box in a few hours when he was in it when first adding him!

 

[ca1ore]

Dusky wrasses is an awesome fish. I have had them continuously in my reef tanks for many years. First one, in a 265 then 450, grew to about 7". They seem to have a lifespan of about 8 years. At that point mine stated to lose weight and eventually died. I purchased a second one, initially in the 450, now in a 6 foot 120, and he's reached about 5" in 3 years. I always buy a juvenile, because then I have a sense of how old it is, and let it develop its colors. Spectacular fish, if a bit understated. An excellent way to control bristle worms, pyramid snails, etc. will happily eat your CUC also. Thumbs up!!

 

[littlefoxx]

Dusky wrasses is an awesome fish. I have had them continuously in my reef tanks for many years. First one, in a 265 then 450, grew to about 7". They seem to have a lifespan of about 8 years. At that point mine stated to lose weight and eventually died. I purchased a second one, initially in the 450, now in a 6 foot 120, and he's reached about 5" in 3 years. I always buy a juvenile, because then I have a sense of how old it is, and let it develop its colors. Spectacular fish, if a bit understated. An excellent way to control bristle worms, pyramid snails, etc. will happily eat your CUC also. Thumbs up!!

Oh cool! Would it eat my smaller fish if I put it in my 70 gallon until it got big enough that I wouldnt worry about one of the eels eating it in my big tank?? Ive got gobies, dottyback, and some other nano fish I dont want eaten! I just would want to wait until it was 4 or so inches before moving it

 

[crazyfishmom]

Mine is about 3-4 inches right now and doesn’t bother any of the other fish in the tank. I have a royal gramma and an orchid dottyback. I also have a six line wrasse and they get along splendidly. Very elegant fish that swims out in the open frequently.

 

[littlefoxx]

Mine is about 3-4 inches right now and doesn’t bother any of the other fish in the tank. I have a royal gramma and an orchid dottyback. I also have a six line wrasse and they get along splendidly. Very elegant fish that swims out in the open frequently.

Oh cool! Thank you. I want to watch her change colors into the male coloring!

 

[Slocke]

Dusky is one of my favorites. And sorry I’ve been swamped by work

 

[crazyfishmom]

Oh cool! Thank you. I want to watch her change colors into the male coloring!

I am trying to figure out whether mine is a male yet… has royal blue colors and not the green at this time I think but maybe it’s just that he’s under blues? Very pretty either way.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Dusky is one of my favorites. And sorry I’ve been swamped by work

Hijacking this post to ask: are these adult male colors???

 

[littlefoxx]

Dusky is one of my favorites. And sorry I’ve been swamped by work

Beautiful!

 

[littlefoxx]

Hijacking this post to ask: are these adult male colors???

Yes! Thats why I was looking at them. Stunning fish!

 

[Slocke]

Hijacking this post to ask: are these adult male colors???

Yes! At a full male it will get the yellow pectoral fins which means it is fully male and will no longer change colors

 

[littlefoxx]

Yes! At a full male it will get the yellow pectoral fins which means it is fully male and will no longer change colors

Do you have any info about the lunar?? Im torn between that, the blue face and the cortez. The lunar is stunning though

 

[Slocke]

Do you have any info about the lunar?? Im torn between that, the blue face and the cortez. The lunar is stunning though

I also have one of those. They are easy but can be aggressive. Mines not as bad as my dragon but does like to zoom around the tank.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I also have one of those. They are easy but can be aggressive. Mines not as bad as my dragon but does like to zoom around the tank.

How are lunares in reef tanks? Any concerns other than aggression?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Yes! At a full male it will get the yellow pectoral fins which means it is fully male and will no longer change colors

Very cool. Thank you! Turns out I have an adult male then!

 

[Slocke]

How are lunares in reef tanks? Any concerns other than aggression?

Definitely. This is a predator tank fish. Or at least a big fish only tank.i wouldn’t have them with anything less then half its size if not its actual size.