Wrasse and cleaner shrimp..

[Dal-Reef]

What are your thoughts on wrasses and cleaner shrimp. Can they they be housed together or will the wrasse take out the shrimp. Running Reefer 250. which is around 60 gal. Is there a wrasse that easy going and will let the shrimp alone.

 

[Gareth elliott]

What wrasses were you looking at?

flasher, fairy wrasses with shrimp no issues.

also have not had issues with smaller.halichoeres Wrasses, like radiant or red lined and my coral banded shrimp or pom pom crabs. But each fish is their own.

 

[WiscoFishNut]

I'm curious about this as well. I currently have a small 6 line wrasse in my tank with a small cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp. I also have a ruby longfin fairy wrasse that's in QT for another 10 days... So far the 6 line is leaving them alone. I'll post back after the other wrasse gets added.

 

[AdamB]

I have an established 2-3" melanurus wrasse and a lubbock's wrasse in my 80 gallon mixed tank in which I recently introduced a <1" skunk cleaner shrimp and I am not having any issues in the 2 weeks they have cohabitated ..Shrimp has jumped on my male anthias this past week to clean him up ..

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have no issues but can say when I added wrasses, I had the cleaner in the tank a month prior as generally the wrasses will accept the shrimp as part of the new environment. Adding the shrimp AFTER the wrasses may suggest to the wrasses that the shrimp is food, although it should not occur

 

[Dal-Reef]

What wrasses were you looking at?

flasher, fairy wrasses with shrimp no issues.

also have not had issues with smaller.halichoeres Wrasses, like radiant or red lined and my coral banded shrimp or pom pom crabs. But each fish is their own.

Thanks for the reply.. Really would like a wrasse and not really hung up on anyone. Just don't want the cleaner shrimp to be a meal.. Wife might give me stink eye she likes him. What about Melanurus?

 

[Dal-Reef]

I have an established 2-3" melanurus wrasse and a lubbock's wrasse in my 80 gallon mixed tank in which I recently introduced a <1" skunk cleaner shrimp and I am not having any issues in the 2 weeks they have cohabitated ..Shrimp has jumped on my male anthias this past week to clean him up ..

Cool that is the wrasse I was looking at.. Keep us updated if something goes wrong with the shrimp

 

[Dal-Reef]

I have no issues but can say when I added wrasses, I had the cleaner in the tank a month prior as generally the wrasses will accept the shrimp as part of the new environment. Adding the shrimp AFTER the wrasses may suggest to the wrasses that the shrimp is food, although it should not occur

Good to know.....I have had the shrimp for several months.. The fish are well feed so that will help as well

 

[Gareth elliott]

You should be ok, make sure you compare online pictures to the wrasse you want to buy, sometimes the lfs will mix up several different species and you dont want halichoeres ornatissimus.

 

[Phil D.]

Researchers have shown that coloration of cleaner shrimp indicates to fish "friends NOT food".

 

[Radman73]

I have a full grown melanarus and cleaner. Cleaner was added after the melanarus and it's been fine. I was nervous, but it worked out. YMMV though, given how this hobby is lol!

 

[saltyhog]

Most of the time Halichoeres wrasses are not much of a threat but individuals can be a problem. I have a 6+" Ear Muff (H. melasmapomas) that hasn't bothered my cleaner, skunk or pistol shrimp. Fairy or flashers should not be a problem at all.

 

[Dal-Reef]

You should be ok, make sure you compare online pictures to the wrasse you want to buy, sometimes the lfs will mix up several different species and you dont want halichoeres ornatissimus.

Yep still researching and wanted to get some R2R advice.. Got really a good LFS here in Dallas and they can get what I want if needed

 

[Dal-Reef]

I have a full grown melanarus and cleaner. Cleaner was added after the melanarus and it's been fine. I was nervous, but it worked out. YMMV though, given how this hobby is lol!

Now that is good know.. That is what I am wanting

 

[Dal-Reef]

Most of the time Halichoeres wrasses are not much of a threat but individuals can be a problem. I have a 6+" Ear Muff (H. melasmapomas) that hasn't bothered my cleaner, skunk or pistol shrimp. Fairy or flashers should not be a problem at all.

Thanks great info

 

[Dal-Reef]

Researchers have shown that coloration of cleaner shrimp indicates to fish "friends NOT food".

Interesting I did not know that.. I mean a cleaner shrimp is help the fish.. well in theory

 

[X-37B]

Had six line for 2 years with a cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp in a 25 nano. No issues. Have a yellow corris wrasse with cleaner and fire shrimp in my 120 with no issues.

 

[Dal-Reef]

Had six line for 2 years with a cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp in a 25 nano. No issues. Have a yellow corris wrasse with cleaner and fire shrimp in my 120 with no issues.

Good info thanks.. What in first fish or shrimp?

 

[saltyhog]

Oh, and if you have established Halichoeres wrasses and want to introduce new inverts you are worried about, just do it at night after they dive in to the sand.

 

[Dal-Reef]

Oh, and if you have established Halichoeres wrasses and want to introduce new inverts you are worried about, just do it at night after they dive in to the sand.

Good advice... thanks