Lunar Wrasse Question

[Lisa Cain]

Question I just purchased a lunar wrasse but I have in my 90 gallon aquarium
two clown fish
Leopard wrasse
Peppermint hogfish
Orange wrasse
3 chromis

In the store he ate a miniature gold fish but was living fine with other saltwater fish.

Should I trust putting him in the tank . I loved him in the store but now I am getting cold feet.

 

[P-Dub]

He should be 'ok' with the other inhabitants. Sessile inverts are another story. The fact that they were feeding him goldfish does make me worry for your Chromis and possibly the clowns depending on the size of each respectively...

 

[saltyhog]

I thought they were very intolerant of other wrasses. They also get big, way to big for your tank. There was one at our LFS that was returned and he was getting pretty close to a foot long. I would think it's only some time before your wrasses and possibly your hog fish are targeted!

 

[P-Dub]

I thought they were very intolerant of other wrasses. They also get big, way to big for your tank. There was one at our LFS that was returned and he was getting pretty close to a foot long. I would think it's only some time before your wrasses and possibly your hog fish are targeted!

They are an aggressive species, I suppose the size of the specimen and the size of the inhabitants will determine its overall compatibility. If it is relatively small and smaller than the other inhabitants it, "should" be ok. As @saltyhog accurately points out, they can get big and even if they are good now that can change.

 

[Lisa Cain]

I played it safe and took him back a few minutes ago which was fine because the store had made a pet out of him. I took him back because my clown fish was absolutely terrified of him. The other fish were not afraid but the clown fish were frantic. I did not want to chance them getting stressed. I like the lunar but after seeing how the clown fish reacted and remembering how he tore the gold fish to shreds I took him back.

 

[P-Dub]

I played it safe and took him back a few minutes ago which was fine because the store had made a pet out of him. I took him back because my clown fish was absolutely terrified of him. The other fish were not afraid but the clown fish were frantic. I did not want to chance them getting stressed. I like the lunar but after seeing how the clown fish reacted and remembering how he tore the gold fish to shreds I took him back.

Good call. The clowns likely looked remarkably like a goldfish to him and he was probably giving them hungry eyes.

 

[Lisa Cain]

Yes, I have put other fish in the tank. The hog fish is not small nor is the orange wrasse and the clown fish did not run from them. But with the lunar they almost tore down the anemone in the front and ran and hid in the anemone in the back. It was a surprise to see them that frantic. At the store they say it is something about the gold fish. At the store the lunar would not bother the chromis fish or the cardinal fish. I think you are correct the clown fish noticed something. The lunar was not a small fish. He was bigger than the peppermint hog and the orange wrasse. I am beginning to like wrasses. They are hardy.