Halichoeres... show some love

[MCCOOL]

Are yall keeping these fish in reef tanks? If so, are you just living without much of a clean up crew?

Would a ~1.5" Plectranthias Inermis be in danger with all of these fish as adults?


... I want one too

[Jacob D]

Originally Posted by MCCOOL

Are yall keeping these fish in reef tanks? If so, are you just living without much of a clean up crew?

Would a ~1.5" Plectranthias Inermis be in danger with all of these fish as adults?


... I want one too

Mine have not shown interest in the CUC, but... I keep them well fed AND I have a massive population of flatworms. I just turned around and both wrasses are chowing down on them as I type.

The post on your other thread about the Iridis eating a fish is the first time I've ever heard about that happening, not that it couldn't happen again, but I think the odds are in favor of your P. inermis being unharmed, especially if you stick with one of the smaller species of Halichoeres. IMO these are really close to an ideal reef fish (peaceful, energetic, colorful, tolerant of conspecifics, eat pests, don't eat coral).

[MCCOOL]

Cool, thanks for the quick reply Jacob.

I'm going to move my shrimp to my LPS tank so I don't have to worry about them, now I just need to decide on a species.

[reefsic]

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[LukFox]

Originally Posted by MCCOOL

Are yall keeping these fish in reef tanks? If so, are you just living without much of a clean up crew?

Would a ~1.5" Plectranthias Inermis be in danger with all of these fish as adults?


... I want one too

I agree with Jacob. At 1.5" with that body shape I wouldn't really worry about it. It was just the shrimp at that point, and since you're moving them it sounds good for one.


Jacob, I didn't buy them as a pair. They're easy enough to sex that I just added the female to my established male, and there was little/no aggression upon introduction. I had no luck with adding a male to an established female, though, but adding a female to a male went very smoothly.

[38bill]

[QUOTE=Elysia;17909923]38bill -- love that redhead -- does it cause you any problems? How big has it grown?

My Red Head is about 4". I've had it less than a year and he gets along with all the other fish. He was skinny when I got him but he eats like a pig and he's really starting to bulk up now.

Here's another one of his tank mates. Ornate Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus). I also have a H melanurus and all three get along without a problem. They are much more calm than the fairy wrasses in the tank.

[Ralph ATL]

Beautiful photos! Fish are gorgeous, too!

[blennielove]

Greetings all!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Halichoeres! I've been trying to figure out a way of getting one, or two or three but I'm terrified that I would kill it as I've had HORRIBLE luck with my wrasses!
I have a 55 gallon reef with one orange spotted blenny, pair of aurara gobies, and a possum wrasse, pair of clearner shrimps, and one peppermint shrimp...would one do well in a system like this? Or will it gain up on the little possum wrasse? I know I have to take my chances with the shrimps...
Jacob, how did you quarantine your beautiful Dusky? Did you have him in a bare bottom?
Thanks to everyone for sharing the beautiful photos!

[MCCOOL]

ReefSic - what species is the wrasse you posted?

[Jacob D]

My QT is a bare bottom. I considered putting sand in there for the wrasses but I do have some live rock that they slept under and it hasn't been an issue.


Here are a couple more pics of the Dusky taken with the lights on this time...

[iamwrasseman]

your shrimp may disappear within days or years but i dont think you will be able to keep them together . my opinion on the fish compatibility would be as follows ,it would be the blenny that may get somewhat aggressive in his territory towards most new fish .he probably wont actually be able to hurt anything but may harass them during the initial two or three weeks of acclimation .also your cleanup crew will possably dwindle slowly as they get picked off when your not at home .
just my 2 pennies but worth the effort IMO.

[iamwrasseman]

Jacob D nice dusky there ! i have a pair of juviniles and they are awesome together .

[blennielove]

Hello Dave - you are really my inspiration when it comes to wrasses!!!
I just love Jacob's second picture of his Dusky, the teeth makes it all very clear!
I currently have a twenty gallon tank with a Lubbock's wrasse whom I've had a year and don't know what to do with - I put him in there because he picked on my possum wrasse in the 55 gallon. At my LFS they have two gorgeous melanurus, one of which ate pellets, one christmas wrasse and I wanted to get the pellet eating melanurus and the christmas, quarantine them in the 20 gallon for two to three weeks (maybe too small), prazi them, then add them together in the 55 gallon. Just a thought...
Thanks for the information though!
Wrasses are so lovely!

[Jacob D]

Originally Posted by reefsic

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Originally Posted by MCCOOL

ReefSic - what species is the wrasse you posted?

I was wondering which that was also. It's a beauty.

Originally Posted by iamwrasseman

Jacob D nice dusky there ! i have a pair of juviniles and they are awesome together .

Thanks Dave. I picked this one up from DD a while back. I thought it was H. marginatus but they said Annularis since it was from Fiji. Do you know which locale your Dusky's were collected from? Any pics of them?

[SDguy]

Originally Posted by Jacob D

My QT is a bare bottom. I considered putting sand in there for the wrasses but I do have some live rock that they slept under and it hasn't been an issue.


Here are a couple more pics of the Dusky taken with the lights on this time...

Beautiful!! Love the shape!

[iamwrasseman]

i dont have a clue as to where they were collected from and no pictures either . i will have to get the camera out but i suk on the computer and its tough to post pictures cause i have to down size them and move them around . i just am so slow learning this stuff with my computer ,i feel like a 4 yr old .

[reefsic]

@ MCCOOL and Jacob D

Thanks guys! Its a male Melanurus

[MCCOOL]

Originally Posted by reefsic

@ MCCOOL and Jacob D

Thanks guys! Its a male Melanurus

Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. Very cool fish

[Idle Moor]

Wow what a great response! I just added my first ever wrasse on Sunday - a little 3" melanurus. Eating pods and the occasional bristle worm like a madman, but eschewing prepared food except for frozen mysis and prime reef. Seems a model citizen so far. Will try to get a pic up.

[Jacob D]

Thanks Peter. I like the shape too; reminds me of a throwing knife.

Idle - Welcome to the Halichoeres club Snap a pic or two of your melanurus.

[gmigmi]

My photo skills aren't great, but some pics from my tank.
helichores is definitely one of my favorite group of wrasse.







and finally the king

[Jacob D]

Originally Posted by gmigmi

My photo skills aren't great, but some pics from my tank.
helichores is definitely one of my favorite group of wrasse....

Wow! Awesome group of Halichoeres you have! The richmondi is very nice. Are all of these together?

[gmigmi]

yes they are all in my 240g

[Jacob D]

That's great. Do they all get along with eachother? How big is your hortulanus?

[gmigmi]

he's aprox. 6 inches, I rarely see a very minor chase but nothing more than that, the interesting thing is that I see much more aggression between my fairy wrasse than the helichores.
the richmondy did get some bullying when he was added to the tank since he came much later then the others, but fortunately he was big enough to make it through the week or two of aggression till things calmed down.