I’d pass on the tamarin and to with the irids until you get some more experience, just my opinion though.
How old is the tank?
Just over one year. Added a lot of copepods about a month ago and add phyto everyday
I’d add pods weekly just to keep numbers high. More is better with pods IMO
In terms of appearance for me it’s the tamarin but they are also much more difficult. However if it’s eating already at the store that’s a huge bonus.
Thank you to all of you! That sure is a really tough call for me between the two. Their both stunning, I’m leaning more towards the iridis since it’s easier and I don’t trust myself enough for the tamarin lol. Thanks once again!In terms of appearance for me it’s the tamarin but they are also much more difficult. However if it’s eating already at the store that’s a huge bonus.
As for pods if you have a good Refugium and add phyto you should easily be able to sustain it. I have 8 wrasse and 2 mandarins and they still find plenty of pods.
Here’s my two:
This stunner was one of 2 beauties in the reefs at the Camden Aquarium.
All the cool stuff was upstairs in the kids section. Check out that hammer colony.
@SaltyT Was told you'd like this little guy The colors were stunning .
And this is Jenny. Jenny weighs 4,000 lbs. Jenny needs 1-800-97Jenny.
Got to watch her and Buttons eat.
That damsel is all like "who are you, and why are you on my turf?!That yellow staghorn damsel though
You can tell he's been around for a long time
Good call! I would save the tamarin for later on when you get more versed in wrassedom.
See…
Good to hear! I hope they can get it in soon as I only have 2 fish left for stocking, the iridis and a diamond tail flasher.See…
The yellow tail tamarin is nice and all but reality is there are much nicer Anampses out there. Wait until Hawaii opens all the way and not just through a petty wrasseless list and you’ll have the chance on the nicest of Anampses species!
For now, go for the iridis, they have all the colours of an A. melargides/melanurus yet they still have more colouring
I wouldn’t say much. There are a couple but it’s still close. Here’s my from memory rankings of the Anampses:
I am however getting a little tired of the melanurus unaliving every dang snail I add to the tank... so maybe I should just skip anymore of that genus, lol. Wouldn't rehome the wrasse due to it, but it's still annoying (and an ongoing expense for replacement meals! I mean snails! 
). Also, he has never once bothered my fire shrimp or 3 little peppermints... and I'm nervous another wrasse might...)
It’s hit and miss. All fish are different and they will reactor differently but there is the certainty it will interact with the new addition. Exactly how will be up to them but because there is an established wrasse with it’s territory already for some time and then you add a new comer that looks very similar eats the good it eats and likes the space(s) it likes then you can expect some sort of level of either or both curiosity and territorial/aggressiveness. How big is the Melanurus and how big is the new comer?Wrasse Experts:
I know it's always technically possible, but what do you think would be the likelihood of major aggression from my large male melanurus if I were to add an adorned wrasse or an earmuff? He recently accepted the fairy wrasse I added no problem... but I know it's more dicey adding another halichoeres. I read somewhere that the adorned will eat fireworms, does that sound accurate? My mel doesn't touch them and I'm seeing some rather large ones again (hate those things!)
Some Halichoeres have a taste for bristleworms including fireworms so it’s probable they will eat it.
Wrasse Experts:
I know it's always technically possible, but what do you think would be the likelihood of major aggression from my large male melanurus if I were to add an adorned wrasse or an earmuff? He recently accepted the fairy wrasse I added no problem... but I know it's more dicey adding another halichoeres. I read somewhere that the adorned will eat fireworms, does that sound accurate? My mel doesn't touch them and I'm seeing some rather large ones again (hate those things!)
That all makes sense. I will probably be rescaping a little right before adding any more additions, so that may be helpful - but definitely know they have the same diet/like the same areas, so I know it's a risk regardless. The melanurus is decent sized, probably a good 4 1/2" or so, maybe 5" tip of nose to end of tail, lol. I don't know what size the new addition would be because I would order from Dr. Reef (though says "medium" size on the site, I will have to email them to see what they mean by that). It looks like the earmuff probably gets a little larger than the adorned at maturity but not sure if that matters. I'm not sure with wrasse whether it's better to add a larger one to an existing, or the opposite, so as to seem like less competition?
