Reef safe wrasse

sabrinagraham · Nov 8, 2015

My husband is wanting a wrasse. I personally don't like the look of them to much. So I was wanting someone's opinion on what would be a colorful and active wrasse that's reef safe to add to our tank. One with a lot of personality.

What we have as of now.

220g

Yellow tang
Sailfin tang
Bonded Clarkii's
Coral Beauty
Bonded ocellaris
2 blue-green Chromis
3 Kaudern Cardinals
Yellow watchman goby
Mandarin dragonet
Lawnmower Blenny

With various inverts and corals.

sabrinagraham · Nov 8, 2015

If anyone has any other suggestions on other fish to add besides wrasses let me know.

Breakthecycle2 · Nov 8, 2015

Fairy/Flasher wrasses are by far some of the most striking fish you can have. They are very active and provide movement all day.

billwill · Nov 8, 2015

Mystery wrasse, melanarus wrasse, any of the fairy wrasses. I think they would grow on you quickly because these are very beautiful and very active

4FordFamily · Nov 8, 2015

Not sure what your budget looks like but a supermale lienatus fairy wrasse would change your mind.

Here is mine

4FordFamily · Nov 8, 2015

Also I would recommend against Mystery wrasse and Sixline wrasse as they can get nasty enough to kill tangs 4X their size..

Fairy wrasse, most halichoeres wrasse (I love yellow "coris", melanarus, vroliks, etc) and flasher wrasse for the most part are pretty docile.

twon8 · Nov 8, 2015

I'll add on to the fairy/flasher wrasse recommendation. Dozens of choices from under $50 up to several thousand $

And while the super male lineatus above is gorgeous, i would stick to buying females so you can see them change into male in your tank.

4FordFamily · Nov 8, 2015

twon8 said:
I'll add on to the fairy/flasher wrasse recommendation. Dozens of choices from under $50 up to several thousand $

And while the super male lineatus above is gorgeous, i would stick to buying females so you can see them change into male in your tank.

Can take a few months to a few years. I personally have zero patience. Turning to male will happen eventually but supermale may never happen. Happens with many other males and females present.

sabrinagraham · Nov 8, 2015

That's the prettiest one I've seen so far. I've never seen a wrasse like that at any of my lfs. All I've ever seen have been the yellow and Christmas wrasses. Where would you recommend ordering one of those from? Do the females look plain before they turn to male?

twon8 · Nov 8, 2015

sabrinagraham said:
That's the prettiest one I've seen so far. I've never seen a wrasse like that at any of my lfs. All I've ever seen have been the yellow and Christmas wrasses. Where would you recommend ordering one of those from? Do the females look plain before they turn to male?

Live aquaria or blue zoo are good choices IMO.

The females look different before they turn

ZoaCollector · Nov 8, 2015

The clowns might harass any wrasse you put in. The chromis as well. I'd get rid of the chromis if possible. You do however have a big tank so it might not be a problem.

Fairy wrasses are a good choice. They usually adapt pretty easily. Some need more care than others.

ZoaCollector · Nov 8, 2015

Duke4Life · Nov 8, 2015

A good thing with fairies is that it's not hard to mix several different kinds.

ca2or · Nov 8, 2015

3FordFamily said:
Not sure what your budget looks like but a supermale lienatus fairy wrasse would change your mind.

Here is mine

That is a beautiful wrasse

saltysilverado · Nov 8, 2015

Leopard wrasse

eatbreakfast · Nov 8, 2015

I wouldn't worry about the clowns with wrasses in a 220, plenty of room ro avoid them. And unless the chromis are 3+" they will not bother the wrasses either. Species of wrasses that I highly recommend include: mckosker, flavianalis, and filamentosus flashers, rubrimarginatus, cf. lanceolatus, rhomboidalis, exquisitus fairies, and timorensis, iridis, and chrysotaenia for Halichoeres species.

sabrinagraham · Nov 8, 2015

Yeah my Chromis are only around 1" so shouldn't be any worry there. Is their any other type of fish besides wrasses that are very active that would work with what I have. I've seen a variety but want to be very careful as to not get some that could bully my others.