Non Pod Decimating Wrasses?

[CMO]

Can anyone recommend specific wrasses that might not destroy my copepod and amphipod population? A little while back I added a melanurus to my established 165 that had a TON of amphipods prior to introduction and it literally wiped out every last one. I have since re-homed the melanurus and my amphiopod population is nice and healthy again which is how I'd like to keep it.

Would something like a fairy wrasse be a better bet in this regard? Or other recommendations?

Thanks

 

[Vahanyos]

Melanurus, Six Line, Line Spot Flasher Wrasse, Leapord Wrasse..... all wrasses i've kept and they LOVE to eat pods. Just helping you add to your pod eating wrasse list

 

[CMO]

Melanurus, Six Line, Line Spot Flasher Wrasse, Leapord Wrasse..... all wrasses i've kept and they LOVE to eat pods. Just helping you add to your pod eating wrasse list

Lol. That helps too! Thanks

 

[Cment]

Would something like a fairy wrasse be a better bet in this regard? Or other recommendations?

Yep, you got it...any flasher or fairy wrasse should be fine.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Fairy and flasher wrasses will not remove a pod population. With fairy wrasses just read up which ones are compatible with each other.

 

[CMO]

Awesome. Thanks guys!!

 

[Jesterrace]

Fairies and Flashers would be the best. All fish will eat pods regardless but they don't target them the way that the Halichoeres or Leopard varieties do.

 

[saltyhog]

All fairy and flasher wrasses fit the bill for you. Just post your tentative stocking list on the "Wrasse Lover's Thread" and I'm sure our experts will help answer your compatibility questions!

 

[PDR]

I agree with the fairy and flasher wrasse recommendations.

That being said, I have never quite understood how so many people have their pod populations decimated by wrasses. I have 3 pod eating wrasses and a mandarin in my RSR 350 and my LR is literally covered with pods. All wrasses have been in the tank for a few months and the mandarin has been in the tank for about 2 years. I don't have a fuge but I do have about 10lbs of LR in the sump.

Am I just lucky or is there something else to consider, like maybe people aren't feeding their tank enough to help boost and support a healthy microfauna population?

Sorry to derail the thread, just something I've been curious about.

 

[nereefpat]

I agree with the fairy and flasher wrasse recommendations.

That being said, I have never quite understood how so many people have their pod populations decimated by wrasses. I have 3 pod eating wrasses and a mandarin in my RSR 350 and my LR is literally covered with pods. All wrasses have been in the tank for a few months and the mandarin has been in the tank for about 2 years. I don't have a fuge but I do have about 10lbs of LR in the sump.

Am I just lucky or is there something else to consider, like maybe people aren't feeding their tank enough to help boost and support a healthy microfauna population?

Sorry to derail the thread, just something I've been curious about.

I wonder if people are confusing types of pods. They aren't seeing the bigger amphipods/isopods and are missing the smaller copepods that are still there.

 

[CMO]

I wonder if people are confusing types of pods. They aren't seeing the bigger amphipods/isopods and are missing the smaller copepods that are still there.

Yeah I'm mostly referring to larger amphipods / isopods with my Melanurus. He decimated my amphipod population in a 165g with 150 pounds of live rock, a large fuge and phyto fed every other day. The mention to copepods was in terms of other wrasses potentially eating them as I have only had a malanurus and wasn't sure.

I know all the tricks to find them at night with a flash light, on the glass etc. and what the different types look like so not user error (or so I think).

 

[saltyhog]

I agree with the fairy and flasher wrasse recommendations.

That being said, I have never quite understood how so many people have their pod populations decimated by wrasses. I have 3 pod eating wrasses and a mandarin in my RSR 350 and my LR is literally covered with pods. All wrasses have been in the tank for a few months and the mandarin has been in the tank for about 2 years. I don't have a fuge but I do have about 10lbs of LR in the sump.

Am I just lucky or is there something else to consider, like maybe people aren't feeding their tank enough to help boost and support a healthy microfauna population?

Sorry to derail the thread, just something I've been curious about.

I have a large H. melasmapomas and a M. geoffroyi in a 72x24 and I see lots of pods in my refugium....but almost none in my DT. I rarely see an amphipod in my filter socks. I have always wanted a mandarin but there is no way my tank would support one. I'm jealous!

 

[Musovski]

Can anyone recommend specific wrasses that might not destroy my copepod and amphipod population? A little while back I added a melanurus to my established 165 that had a TON of amphipods prior to introduction and it literally wiped out every last one. I have since re-homed the melanurus and my amphiopod population is nice and healthy again which is how I'd like to keep it.

Would something like a fairy wrasse be a better bet in this regard? Or other recommendations?

Thanks

Red Head Solon Wrasse

 

[PDR]

I have a large H. melasmapomas and a M. geoffroyi in a 72x24 and I see lots of pods in my refugium....but almost none in my DT. I rarely see an amphipod in my filter socks. I have always wanted a mandarin but there is no way my tank would support one. I'm jealous!

Yeah so the funny thing is I don’t actually see many in my sump, but at night on the rocks there are pods of all kinds, many that are much larger than I have seen previously.

Fwiw I had an adult grey head wrasse for years with my spotted mandarin without issues (from about the time the tank was 6-8 months old). I now have an ornate wrasse, yellow wrasse and melanurus with my mandarin, all fat and happy. It doesn’t hurt that my mandarin started eating frozen out of the blue a few weeks ago, but still no shortage of pods. I guess I’m just lucky lol.

 

[saltyhog]

Yeah so the funny thing is I don’t actually see many in my sump, but at night on the rocks there are pods of all kinds, many that are much larger than I have seen previously.

Fwiw I had an adult grey head wrasse for years with my spotted mandarin without issues (from about the time the tank was 6-8 months old). I now have an ornate wrasse, yellow wrasse and melanurus with my mandarin, all fat and happy. It doesn’t hurt that my mandarin started eating frozen out of the blue a few weeks ago, but still no shortage of pods. I guess I’m just lucky lol.

or I'm unlucky. My leopard and halichoeres wrasses are so fat they look like Titan subs but they still hunt pods all day long. LOL

 

[maroun.c]

I have more than 20 wrasses including melanurus pair and few leopards and a radiant wrass .... and tank can still sustain 2dragon face pipe fish 2 mandarins and 2 scooter blennys. It is a larger tank but proportionally ur tank is in better conditions. I believe pods populations are very prolific and can sustain against predation of tank has a good nutrient load and a large fudge. I only seeded 2-3 times just to be on the safe side but it’s been months I didn’t dose any and my wrass only inhabitants are still doing fine.

 

[Jesterrace]

I have a Leopard and Melanurus and I definitely don't have much in the way of pods in my tank, but I didn't start a refugium in my Sump until November. Over the last few weeks I have seen them crawling around in my sump at night. I think it's just going to take a while for the pod population to build up.

 

[Ryan1783]

Fairy wrasses should work

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

I agree with the fairy and flasher wrasse recommendations.

That being said, I have never quite understood how so many people have their pod populations decimated by wrasses. I have 3 pod eating wrasses and a mandarin in my RSR 350 and my LR is literally covered with pods. All wrasses have been in the tank for a few months and the mandarin has been in the tank for about 2 years. I don't have a fuge but I do have about 10lbs of LR in the sump.

Am I just lucky or is there something else to consider, like maybe people aren't feeding their tank enough to help boost and support a healthy microfauna population?

Sorry to derail the thread, just something I've been curious about.

I have teh excact same tank with 3 pod eating wrasses and a mandarin and i dont think my pod population has been decimated either, although i adf some every now and then just to make sure the population stays healthy, i dont check for them i just know they are there as i see my wrasses and mandarin constantly pecking on rocks lol