Wrasse help which one?

[Cflip]

ok I narrowed it down to red lines or vrolik. I have never seen either one. Small 60 gallon tank

 

[ngoodermuth]

Vrolik's is a little bigger, so based on tank-size I'd go with the red-lined. Or, one of my personal favorites - the melanurus.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Vrolik's is a little bigger, so based on tank-size I'd go with the red-lined. Or, one of my personal favorites - the melanurus.

Melanurus and vrolik are sister species. Their needs and care are identical.

Red lined or vroliks will be fine in a 60g.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Melanurus and vrolik are sister species. Their needs and care are identical.

That's interesting, I didn't know that. I wonder why live aquaria has different tank-size requirements listed for them?

 

[eatbreakfast]

That's interesting, I didn't know that. I wonder why live aquaria has different tank-size requirements listed for them?

I can't tell you why LA has them with different tank requirements. They are essentially Pacific vs. Indian ocean variants of each other, so close that some taxonomists consider them as synonymous.

 

[Cflip]

Vrolik's is a little bigger, so based on tank-size I'd go with the red-lined. Or, one of my personal favorites - the melanurus.

I saw a melanurus today. That's one big fish. I think it's too big for my tank. Are the others the same size?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I saw a melanurus today. That's one big fish. I think it's too big for my tank. Are the others the same size?

They are comparably sized.

 

[Doostur]

Why not a red fin fairy wrasse?

 

[Maritimer]

I thought the red-line was a bit smaller ... am I mis-remembering that?

~Bruce

 

[eatbreakfast]

I thought the red-line was a bit smaller ... am I mis-remembering that?

~Bruce

I've had lg male biocellatus get every bit as long as full grown melanurus and chrysotaenia. The difference is the latter 2 have a deeper body.

 

[40B Knasty]

The red line I would go with. It is a little bit like the Yellow & Purple Wrasse I have. A blast to watch swimming around. A little nutball, but he is cool with all my fish. Not a flat worm in site either. Great fish for keeping pests down. That's my vote!

 

[4FordFamily]

Melanurus and vrolik are sister species. Their needs and care are identical.

Red lined or vroliks will be fine in a 60g.

X2. I find melanarus slightly hardier IME. I've owned probably 4-5 of each over the years. I find melanarus more handsome in appearance. I find that most Vroliks look better in photos than in person. A male melanarus is a prettier more vibrant typically. More common and often less expensive than a Vroliks as well, although they're mixed up at LFS often because they look so similar. Just my opinion!

 

[eatbreakfast]

X2. I find Vroliks slightly hardier IME. I've owned probably 4-5 of each over the years. I find melanarus more handsome in appearance. I find that most Vroliks look better in photos than in person. A male melanarus is a prettier more vibrant typically. More common and often less expensive than a Vroliks as well, although they're mixed up at LFS often because they look so similar. Just my opinion!

That's the beauty of opinions, I think vrolik's are much prettier than melanurus, but to each their own. It's really splitting hairs on these 2.

 

[4FordFamily]

That's the beauty of opinions, I think vrolik's are much prettier than melanurus, but to each their own. It's really splitting hairs on these 2.

Haha I previously subscribed to your opinion if you asked me a year ago. I've swayed back the other way.

I wonder if my additional affection for the Vroliks was related to their availability, the "Lincoln" of the matchup. (Less common, and assumedly more sought after and expensive)

But as a Ford guy, I have to admit Lincoln takes a great Ford car, puts an ugly chrome mustache on it, upgrades the interior, and marks it up more than it's worth. So I went back to the melanarus/Ford!

 

[4FordFamily]

Also I meant melanarus slightly hardier. Smaller specimens less hardy than larger. Both hardy species overall, IMO. I fixed my comment.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Haha I previously subscribed to your opinion if you asked me a year ago. I've swayed back the other way.

I wonder if my additional affection for the Vroliks was related to their availability, the "Lincoln" of the matchup. (Less common, and assumedly more sought after and expensive)

But as a Ford guy, I have to admit Lincoln takes a great Ford car, puts an ugly chrome mustache on it, upgrades the interior, and marks it up more than it's worth. So I went back to the melanarus/Ford!

For me it goes to the difference in the facial striping. I prefer the more purple-ish striping in chrysotaenia to the redder striping in melanurus.

 

[4FordFamily]

For me it goes to the difference in the facial striping. I prefer the more purple-ish striping in chrysotaenia to the redder striping in melanurus.

I can agree with that, although it seems melanarus striping can range from
orange to pink-- but almost all vroliks are more pink, you're right.

I do prefer super male melanarus which seem more pink than their counterparts

 

[evolved]

I thought the red-line was a bit smaller ... am I mis-remembering that?

~Bruce

Typically yes, but as TJ points out they can get nearly as big.

For me it goes to the difference in the facial striping. I prefer the more purple-ish striping in chrysotaenia to the redder striping in melanurus.

You two are comparing the appearance of a Gala apple to a Fuji apple! ;Hilarious

 

[Maritimer]

Well, at least it's apples-to-apples . . .

~B.