Reef Safe Wrasse

betelgeuse · Sep 22, 2015

So it has been a while since I've added any fish to my 150 right now there is a blue hippo tang, a vlamingii tang (the 2 tangs are besties) a diamond watchman, 2 clowns, an engineer goby, and a couple chromis. I have around 400lbs live rock and plenty of pods so what I wanted was some advice. I am thinking about adding a REEF-SAFE Wrasse to the tank. I wanted to get some opinions from you guys about what your favorite REEF-SAFE wrasses are?
Thanks

Daniel@R2R · Sep 22, 2015

Oh man! So many to choose from... I have a pair of melanarus wrasses that are awesome, but I also love most of the fairy and flasher varieties. If you're up for more of a finicky variety, maybe look at some of the tamarin or leopard varieties. In a reef that size, you could even do a community of wrasses if you want.

650-IS350 · Sep 22, 2015

Those are work horses. Looking to get another one.

eliramos · Sep 22, 2015

I loved my yellow choris wrasse beautiful bright yellow!
Melanarus are beautiful too but can get a little sassy with other wrasses!
I also did have a twin spot wrasse who I loved!
You have literally hundreds of choices!!!
Check out liveaquaria to get a feel of some of your options!

BfishLpond78 · Sep 22, 2015

As many have said there is numerous choices you can make.

It really depends on your budget and preference of fish...I like many are a huge fan of the fairy wrasses, beautiful movement, colors and great temperament. I currently have a trio of Flames and one Pintail in my 150....among other fish.

Check out the wrasse lover threads and wrasse ID thread run by the wrasse gurus @evolved @eatbreakfast

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/let-me-id-your-wrasse.97755/page-54#post-2454893

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-wrasse-lovers-thread.113942/page-137#post-2460573

evolved · Sep 22, 2015

You rang?

Also, these:
http://www.3reef.com/threads/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses.122261/
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/cirrhilabrus-complexes-inferiority-need-not-apply/

650-IS350 · Sep 22, 2015

eliramos said:
I loved my yellow choris wrasse beautiful bright yellow!
Melanarus are beautiful too but can get a little sassy with other wrasses!
I also did have a twin spot wrasse who I loved!
You have literally hundreds of choices!!!
Check out liveaquaria to get a feel of some of your options!

Mine wussed out vs a fairy wrasse which was smaller..

dyates442 · Sep 22, 2015

I love carpenter fairy wrasse

Frankyrivera · Sep 22, 2015

Hawaiian flame wrasse. Yellow coris wrasse lineatus. Rhomboid. Potters. Choati it goes on forever. Pink margin whip fin fairy wrasse rosy scales wrasse 8 line flasher wrasse. Diamond or pin tail

eatbreakfast · Sep 23, 2015

There is a wrasse for every taste. I prefer some of the Halichoeres species, leucurus, timorensis, iridis.

Frankyrivera · Sep 23, 2015

Most of those you mentioned are not necessarily reef safe though

eatbreakfast · Sep 23, 2015

They are completely coral safe, and the ones I mentioned are invert safe as well unless underfed.

eatbreakfast · Sep 23, 2015

Just as reef safe as choati and yellow coris....

Frankyrivera · Sep 23, 2015

My halichoeres and timorensis ate a lot of snails hermits shrimp even when fed my choati never did but I am noticing my yellow coris is really fat lol maybe he's chewing on my snails too

clee36 · Sep 23, 2015

have a solorensis in my tank. great guy. bothers no one.

Triggreef · Sep 24, 2015

The order is important and you will end up wanting more than one. Start with leopards, they are by far the prettiest and less aggressive. My potters leopard and my male meleagris are the prettiest.

tdyrkacz · Sep 24, 2015

I want to have a mandarin one day. It seems the leopards would compete with it for live food is that correct?

eatbreakfast · Sep 24, 2015

tdyrkacz said:
I want to have a mandarin one day. It seems the leopards would compete with it for live food is that correct?

Yep, basically all the leopards and Halichoeres wrasses will compete with mandarins for pods.

Triggreef · Sep 24, 2015

Although it is a big tank. If you have a good amount of live rock in the tank, and some in the sump as well, you'll always have pods. I have at least ten or so pod eating wrasse and a couple other pod eating fish. I can always see pods at night still and during the day when I pick up frags or rocks in the tank.

I would add the Mandarin first if your doing a wrasse after.