Halichoeres--for pest control

[MixedFruitBasket]

In the past I've always had a melanurus in my tank who has done a splendid job of eating everything from flat worms to nudibranch. A few years ago I went back to a smaller tank but of course my Mel continued to grow and I recently had to place her cause she was getting a bit stir crazy and eating the food faster than the other fish could get to it. I'm thinking about getting another wrasse for pest control besides my canary who hasn't seemed that interested in eating nudis when I find them. Are any of the other Halichoeres more docile? Or are they all going to be high energy? I noticed that the pearl is the only one that's listed as "reef safe". I've had good luck with my other Mels tho except when I introduced teeny tiny peppermint shrimp. Those she ate.

 

[SamsReef]

Yellow coris wrasse is my personal favorite

 

[saltyhog]

They are all individuals but usually the yellow wrasse you have is very good at pest control. They are all high energy and aggressive eaters but most are pretty mildly mannered with other fish.

What size is your tank? H. biocellatus is a smaller Halichoeres and very pretty.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I have a 90 gallon

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

They are all individuals but usually the yellow wrasse you have is very good at pest control. They are all high energy and aggressive eaters but most are pretty mildly mannered with other fish.

What size is your tank? H. biocellatus is a smaller Halichoeres and very pretty.

Oh, yes, that is a very pretty fish. Thank you

 

[Jesterrace]

I have a 90 gallon

A 90 gallon is plenty for a Melanurus Wrasse. I have had one in mine for almost 2 years now. Either way as mentioned a Red Lined Wrasse (aka H.Biocellatus) or Yellow Wrasse would be excellent choices as well.

 

[dragon99]

Also take a look at an Adorned wrasse, halichoeres cosmetus. I've had no problems with mine bothering the snails or cleaner shrimp.

 

[mattzang]

i don't seem to have any nudibranch issues with h. biocellatus and h. chrysus

i also just added a tiny peppermint shrimp recently and they left it alone. i've never seen them go after an invert, but i have lost some inverts so they may have done the deed, not sure