Melunaris

[Chessmanmark]

A Melunaris is a funny fish.

If you looked at my QT tank you would wonder why I have an empty tank with equipment in it.

So the fish spends most of its time under the sand in a small Tupperware container with a few inches of oolitic sand. It’s wierd.

I mean, how does it breath under the sand?

But it sure is a beautiful hypnotic fish. The colors and patterns are fantastic.

I stayed away from Halichoeres wrasses in favor of fairy wrasses that stay small. I also run a bare bottom tank, which I am now rethinking.

It’s been one week in QT without any meds, and if the fish looks healthy in 3 more weeks I will have to decide on sand in containers well hidden or putting some sand in my tank.

If you haven’t checked out a Melunaris do so. There is something special about this fish and it also makes a great utility fish for the reef as well.

 

[OrionN]

Melunaris wrasse?

 

[Waters]

A Melunaris is a funny fish.

If you looked at my QT tank you would wonder why I have an empty tank with equipment in it.

So the fish spends most of its time under the sand in a small Tupperware container with a few inches of oolitic sand. It’s wierd.

I mean, how does it breath under the sand?

But it sure is a beautiful hypnotic fish. The colors and patterns are fantastic.

I stayed away from Halichoeres wrasses in favor of fairy wrasses that stay small. I also run a bare bottom tank, which I am now rethinking.

It’s been one week in QT without any meds, and if the fish looks healthy in 3 more weeks I will have to decide on sand in containers well hidden or putting some sand in my tank.

If you haven’t checked out a Melunaris do so. There is something special about this fish and it also makes a great utility fish for the reef as well.

I actually had to remove mine....got very aggressive towards other wrasses. Beautiful, active fish though.

 

[Zionas]

If you want to keep a Halichoeres in a bare bottom tank maybe consider a container with 2-3” of sand?

 

[vetteguy53081]

They must have sand and hiding

 

[Chessmanmark]

He was out in QT a good bit today.

 

[cshouston]

Melanurus, just FYI.

 

[DaneGer21]

I had one years ago for a flatworm outbreak, which works! Beautiful fish. I kept it for many years before trading it off.

 

[Chessmanmark]

Melanurus, just FYI.

Thank you. I’ve been saying that wrong for a couple of weeks.
Half the time I pronounce reef vocabulary wrong untilI hear someone say the word out loud.

 

[cshouston]

Thank you. I’ve been saying that wrong for a couple of weeks.
Half the time I pronounce reef vocabulary wrong untilI hear someone say the word out loud.

No worries! Some of these fish have weird names!

 

[OrionN]

He was out in QT a good bit today.

That is not a H. melanurus, but it is a H. chrysotaenia, or the Vrolik Wrasse, same as mine.
Here is my H. chrysotaenia. They are pretty similar except the supple tail pattern and slightly different facial marking. Mine is not quite a male yet but is getting there.
Chrysotaenia is larger than Melanurus and their range do not overlap, so no hybrid.
I though that mine was a Melanurus for ever until I feel that she is getting large, as a female. After much searching and research, she turn out to be a Vrolik wrasse.
As a baby

Current pictures

 

[sfin52]

This is Melanurus. I love them. They do take a while to adjust to new lighting. They have a impressive biological clock.
Unless @OrionN says differently

 

[cshouston]

This is Melanurus. I love them. They do take a while to adjust to new lighting. They have a impressive biological clock.
Unless @OrionN says differently

That tail looks like a Vrolik’s.

 

[cshouston]

After reading Orion’s post, I researched the differences. They’re sister species, just geographically separated. The melanurus have a smaller tail. They also don’t get as big as Vrolik’s.

 

[sfin52]

That tail looks like a Vrolik’s.

I agree there's no spot just a line.

 

[OrionN]

Here is a H. chrysotaenia
The tail and the face pattern is slightly different. I found this wrasse picture on line but it really show the different tail pattern which is what the OP wrasse and mine. However mine is not as clearly define yet.

 

[Chessmanmark]

My head is spinning.

I asked for a Melanurus and the owner of the LFS showed me a pretty big one. Then he showed me the one I bought.

I am amazed at both of your knowledge and ability to identify these fish.

Other than getting 1/2 an inch bigger is it pretty much like a Melanurus or does it have any other specific needs, or temperament that I should know about before I move it to my display?

I appreciate you telling me this as I was unaware.

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2997/?pcatid=2997

 

[Amstar]

What are you putting it in with? What tank mates will it have?

 

[Chessmanmark]

I have eight fish in that tank.
PBT, Flame Hawkfish, Yellow Assessor, Pintail Wrasse
Cinnamon Clownfish, Orangetail Damsel, Chromis x 2.

 

[OrionN]

They are good, not easy intimidate by other fish but not aggressive in my tank, which is a 320 gal tank. They will look just as beautiful as the Melenurus. The picture on LA is a very poor picture of our wrasse.