Potters Wrasse

reefrf · Apr 4, 2018

Hi! Just wondering if anyone has had a Potters Wrasse nip at Acro’s? Since introducing mine, he has been non stop nipping above, below going acro to acro. I’m not aware of these fish typically doing this.

Have you had this experience? I don’t think I have red bugs or aefw as I am extremely careful when introducing corals.
I also should mention I have one other leopard wrasse as well as a coris wrasse that I’ve never seen nip.

jda · Apr 4, 2018

I have had a bunch of leopards and none of them picked at any coral unless there was food on them.

I would look really hard for pests.

CoralNerd · Apr 4, 2018

Time to dip those acros [emoji21]

reefrf · Apr 4, 2018

CoralNerd said:
Time to dip those acros [emoji21]

Not dipping until I have some evidence. [emoji854] perhaps I’ll start with one & see.

Kyl · Apr 4, 2018

Hopefully you don't have AEFW!

FDAWG · Apr 4, 2018

Maybe you just got a fancy Potter's Wrasse with expensive taste. ;Smug

evolved · Apr 4, 2018

It's definitely not eating the corals, so...

reefrf said:
I don’t think I have red bugs or aefw as I am extremely careful when introducing corals.

Unfortunately there's something you can't see.

crayon · Apr 4, 2018

I have a Potters Wrasse and he doesn’t touch anything. Loves looking around at the corals, but he doesn’t nip. So my sense is, you’ve got critters.........

Bob Weigant · Apr 4, 2018

Id say its looking for something else thats around your coral.

reefrf · Apr 5, 2018

Well so far no evidence. Dipped a 12” colony of Mille, one of which he nipped several times. Nothing came off. Also dipped several frags/branches taken from display & nothing.

eatbreakfast · Apr 5, 2018

They aren't coral eaters, so he is finding something.

reefrf · Apr 5, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
They aren't coral eaters, so he is finding something.

This may be true but I’m just keeping those interested updated. I will dip a few others that I can pop off easily. If nothing comes off....it is what it is. So far, I’m glad I haven’t seen anything yet. I looked with loupes at the base where eggs are seen & as mentioned dipped. But I’ve only dipped one colony so far.

ReeferBean · Apr 5, 2018

How long have you had it? Is it eating prepared foods? If not, I got mine eating with cyclops and roe / fish eggs.

Maacc · Apr 5, 2018

I'm with Hunter on this one, never had a potters even contemplate nipping a coral. There's some worm/bugs/pod that he is interested in.

reefrf · Apr 5, 2018

ReeferBean said:
How long have you had it? Is it eating prepared foods? If not, I got mine eating with cyclops and roe / fish eggs.

Have had the Potters only for a week. Eating everything (haha), frozen, flake too.

reefrf · Apr 5, 2018

Maacc said:
I'm with Hunter on this one, never had a potters even contemplate nipping a coral. There's some worm/bugs/pod that he is interested in.

Agreed. Perhaps pods. Thought about that since I have a fat & happy mandarin for over a year now. But I didn’t think pods hang out on the undersides & branches of Acro’s?

ReeferBean · Apr 5, 2018

reefrf said:
Have had the Potters only for a week. Eating everything (haha), frozen, flake too.

Nice. Are you seeing any damage? Its probably just foraging for pods etc. as it gets used to its surroundings.

AEFW on milles are pretty easy to spot... they love those. One of the first to show signs ime... circular bite marks at the base and underside of the branches.

Kyl · Apr 5, 2018

You won't need to dip to see evidence of AEFW, the bite marks on the tissue will be very apparent. Don't ask me how I know that, it wasn't fun!

reefrf · Apr 5, 2018

ReeferBean said:
Nice. Are you seeing any damage? Its probably just foraging for pods etc. as it gets used to its surroundings.

AEFW on milles are pretty easy to spot... they love those. One of the first to show signs ime... circular bite marks at the base and underside of the branches.

No damage as it’s only been in my reef for about a week & my colonies are fairly large. I hope you’re right about it getting familiar with its surrounding & foraging for pods. Yes, you’re correct also about AEFW loving Milles, I had them in the past & fought the battle. They are no fun to deal with. I see no other indication of pests in my reef, and I’m very familiar with what it looks like.

I will keep checking though. I plan on dipping my Garf Bonsai & perhaps one other to check. The rest of my colonies are fully encrusted 1-3” onto the base so not easily removed.

NeverlosT · Apr 5, 2018

I have two potters wrasses, one for 3 years and one for 1 year and they both don't pick at SPS.

It could just be some pods running around that they are after. Is your wrasse actually damaging the SPS?

Good luck!