Favorite Wrasses

[NC122606]

So I have not picked Wrasses out that I like so far (Only Harlequin Tusk and Leopard) and would like to see what your favorite Wrasse are. Also, tell me why I should get it and why you like it.
Also, try to make it reef safe (Eating some inverts are ok) but not nipping at corals.
Thanks!

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

I love my Melanarus- here he is waking up in the morning

 

[Edp251]

Have only had for a few weeks, I shopped around quite a bit before selecting a solorensis wrasse. https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/keeping-the-red-headed-fairy-wrasse/. It’s a sweet and easy to care for fish. A touch slow to the food compared to others but it gets plenty. Very pretty, sweet and easy going fish so far. Enjoy your search!

 

[JumboShrimp]

I am partial to the Lunare (Moon) Wrasse, and great adult male Blue Headed Wrasse. I also saw a large Banana Wrasse in a LFS recently, and it was gorgeous. If I had room for it in my tank, I would have dropped the $125 for it.

 

[NC122606]

Here are some I like that I saw, (No Order)
Fish Only (But with Caution)
1. Red Coris Wrasse
2. Melanarus Wrasse
3. Christmas Wrasse
4. Greyhead Wrasse
5. Pink face Wrasse
6. Goldspot Wrasse
7. Red Breast Wrasse
8. Red Lined Wrasse
9. Richmonds Wrasse
10. Dusky Wrasse
11. Earmuff Wrasse

Reef Safe:
1. Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse
2. Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse
3. Mccoskers Flasher Wrasse
4. Scotts Fairy Wrasse
5. Carpenters Flasher Wrasse

What anything bad about one of these fish? Also what would you choose?

 

[motortrendz]

I love my flame wrasses, very personable and always come to the glass when I'm near. My 8 line flasher is one of my favorite for their coloring. My melanarus wrasse is great and is always inspecting corals for pests.

 

[maroun.c]

Wrasses are an addiction , I have and like the followings :
Flame
Lineatus
Magma
Rubrisquamis
Octitaenia
Solorensis
Orange back
Rubeus
Lubocks
Flavidorsalis
Cyaenus
Negrosensis
Bipartitus Melanurus ( just removed to qt to introduce few other wrasses due to aggressiity)
Tonozukai banned to qt for aggressivity
Added a choati but he was hiding immediately at lights on, till he died. Believe aggression from negrosensis as I had removed bipartitus and melanurus.
I have a batiphilus, batiphilus and a radiant wrass in QT that I'm adding soon.

 

[motortrendz]

Wrasses are an addiction , I have and like the followings :
Flame
Lineatus
Magma
Rubrisquamis
Octitaenia
Solorensis
Orange back
Rubeus
Lubocks
Flavidorsalis
Cyaenus
Negrosensis
Bipartitus Melanurus ( just removed to qt to introduce few other wrasses due to aggressiity)
Tonozukai banned to qt for aggressivity
Added a choati but he was hiding immediately at lights on, till he died. Believe aggression from negrosensis as I had removed bipartitus and melanurus.
I have a batiphilus, batiphilus and a radiant wrass in QT that I'm adding soon.

Lol.your worse than me... I listed my favorite but I have a red pin tail, a green bird(hes the tank a$$hole) I have an exquisite, radiant, 3 flames(one super male, one transitional male and one female) an 8 line, a melanarus, solorensis and I know I'm forgetting one Haha.

 

[maroun.c]

Bet I'm forgetting a few as well
Here's a couple.i just remembered
Pylei
Pin tail.
Exquisite, flaviannalis in QT as well

Wrasses are an addiction

 

[NC122606]

Thank you all for your help I will pick out ones that I like! I'll come back with a list of some I came out alive with, also @maroun.c I feel so bad you lost a $200 dollar fish.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Tough question!!! I like mccosker's & carpenter's flasher wrasses. For fairy wrasses there's a TON of them that I like including rhomboid, lineatus, pintail, flame...and that's just off the top of my head. I like the anampses wrasses a lot (all of them). Also, for the leopards, I like blue star and potter's... My absolute favorite for beauty though is the Johnsoni Fairy Wrasse. Those guys are gorgeous!! One day I'll have one...

 

[maroun.c]

Thank you all for your help I will pick out ones that I like! I'll come back with a list of some I came out alive with, also @maroun.c I feel so bad you lost a $200 dollar fish.

Yeah a real shame. Happens though with wrasses when u have an established hierarchy and try to add a new fish
Problem is these are rarely available here and I had to fly with the fish, quarantine it for 6 weeks and then catch 2 wrasses before placing it in an I tro box for a week and then still losing it.

 

[NC122606]

Ok After some deciding here are the top 4 for each (Not including Harlequin Tusk or Leopard)

Reef Safe:
1. Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse
2. Scott's Fairy Wrasse
3. Tono's Fairy Wrasse
4. Carpenters Flasher Wrasse

(With Caution) Live Rock Only
1. Pink face Wrasse
2. Melanarus Wrasse
3. Red Coris Wrasse
4. Dusky Wrasse

Anyone that should be kicked out? These are sorted in order from my favorite down.

 

[motortrendz]

I like your reef safe pics, I'd be careful with the other 4. The melanarus is a good one. The harlequin is gorgeous but will feast on your corals like a parrot. If your planning on coral I might hold off on him. Hes one of my favorites but I dont have one. One day I wanna set up a Fowlr and that will be in there with some nice Angels.
Also Something to keep in mind is the hierarchy especially with flashers or fairy wrasses. Once they're established itll be very hard to add another.

 

[maroun.c]

I'd skip the Tono's they are known to be aggressive. Mine was fine for few months till it picked up some size and bullied my wrasses, mostly lineatus to no end till I removed him.

 

[NC122606]

I like your reef safe pics, I'd be careful with the other 4. The melanarus is a good one. The harlequin is gorgeous but will feast on your corals like a parrot. If your planning on coral I might hold off on him. Hes one of my favorites but I dont have one. One day I wanna set up a Fowlr and that will be in there with some nice Angels.
Also Something to keep in mind is the hierarchy especially with flashers or fairy wrasses. Once they're established itll be very hard to add another.

I'd skip the Tono's they are known to be aggressive. Mine was fine for few months till it picked up some size and bullied my wrasses, mostly lineatus to no end till I removed him.

Ok, thanks! I was looking at the Pinkface and hate to say that it comes from an aggressive genus.
So here is my top 2
Reef Safe:
1. Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse
2. Carpenters Flasher
(Leopard Wrasse)

FOWLR Only:
1. Melanarus Wrasse
2. Dusky Wrasse
(Harlequin Tusk)

Pink face might not be ok because I heard they are aggressive as well as the red coris being a bit bashful and become mean.
[ Maybe Pinkface but I am not sure how it will go. They seem aggressive ]

 

[maroun.c]

I'd skip any aggressive ones for now till less aggressive wrasses are established and grow a bit. Aggressive wrasses might still catchup and intimidate established ones still.

 

[resortez]

Some of my favorite wrasses are mainly because of coloration like
Any flasher wrasse because of the unique fins.
Really like the purple & yellow contrast in a mystery wrasse.
Scott’s wrasse come in an array of color, especially the ones from the cooks islands.
Exquisite & Labouts have very nice coloration & pattern.
Red coris wrasse, both juvenile & adult.
Hawaiian flame wrasse are very bright.
Lineatus are gorgeous.
Naoko have a bright yellow streak running through there body that makes them glow.
Lighting wrasse are pretty.
Leopards, blue stars, potters or kuiters have beautiful patterns & colors.
Choati is a very unique looking wrasse.
Moyeri are good looking wrasse fish.
Radiant wrasse has nice contrasting colors.

 

[motortrendz]

If I could have a tank full of flashers only I would. Lol. Every one of them are beautiful in their own right and uniqueness.

 

[BestMomEver]

I will be the only person that says this..... Six line Wrasse. The work horse of the Wrasse family. Underrated, unappreciated, falsely accused (sometimes)....

I’ve had one for three years. He was the first fish I ever bought. Sweet as can be. He doesn’t even bother my tiny bumblebee shrimp. His name is Linus.... incredible fish!