All About Reef Safe Wrasses in Aquaria

[Rocklin Mike]

There are several wrasses that go by the common name of Christmas wrasse. Some are a lot more aggressive than others. Do you know the species name or can you post a picture. H. ornatissiumus is pretty aggressive while H. claudia is pretty passive. Both go by that common name.

Halichoeres claudia. From Live aquaria. Is there a difference in colors? Perhaps they sent the wrong species.

 

[HairyGary]

The Hooded is a big chicken when it comes to me. So it might be difficult and I would err on the side of permanent removal if I did catch him as I don’t think I’d get another chance if released. I’m trying to find an initial phase isoceles and would like to add a few more others, but it’s tough to find what I’m looking for. The tank is 30x42, 90 gal.

Yeah, I know how that goes. Young male wrasses are hard to find as the market seems to be directed toward the color of terminal males. What else you looking for? Divers Den has a few gems now. There is a young Johnsoni there. He could push the Hooded for dominance.

 

[Dugless]

Yeah, I know how that goes. Young male wrasses are hard to find as the market seems to be directed toward the color of terminal males. What else you looking for? Divers Den has a few gems now. There is a young Johnsoni there. He could push the Hooded for dominance.

I really want the isoceles over the johnsoni. I’d go for both if I could, but everything I’ve read suggests against it.

 

[saltyhog]

Halichoeres claudia. From Live aquaria. Is there a difference in colors? Perhaps they sent the wrong species.

This is H. claudia

This is H. biocellatus, also called Christmas wrasse

This link has a picture of H. ornatissimus

https://reefguide.org/ornatewrasse.html

 

[HairyGary]

I really want the isoceles over the johnsoni. I’d go for both if I could, but everything I’ve read suggests against it.

I plan on doing it. Just waiting to add it as one of my last wrasse. I've had a Brunneus and Isosceles together and they are closer in sub group. I think you would be ok with it. Actually, I think @evolved has them together. Diamond/pintail vs crescent tail. I am fortunate enough that my LFS owners are wrasse freaks and can get pretty much anything. They have a 220 now with a Gem tang and all wrasse. Three Johnsoni males (third one just transitioned), Brunneus, two Jordani's, Lineatus, Labouti, H. Chrysus, Melanearus, pair of Bellus, etc. I might be missing a few. The big male Johnsoni rules the tank but pretty peaceful overall.

 

[Dugless]

Well shoot, I would’ve pulled the trigger on a Brunneus a few weeks ago on DD. All my preferred wrasse are in the Lunatus complex.

 

[HairyGary]

Well shoot, I would’ve pulled the trigger on a Brunneus a few weeks ago on DD. All my preferred wrasse are in the Lunatus complex.

Same here pretty much. Really docile group. I have a friend here who refuses to buy another Pintail because it was too shy. Mine is great and really active but my Lineatus will nudge him once in a while to show him whose boss I think.

 

[Rocklin Mike]

This is H. claudia

This is H. biocellatus, also called Christmas wrasse

This link has a picture of H. ornatissimus

https://reefguide.org/ornatewrasse.html

Definitely Claudia.

 

[saltyhog]

Definitely Claudia.

Dang, that's a little out of the ordinary for them in my limited experience but every fish is an individual. If you can catch him, you could put him in your QT tank for a few days/weeks and see if he settles down.

 

[OrionN]

Sometime having more wrasses in a tank will defuse aggression issue, but the tank have to be large enough for all the wrasses.
In my 320, a Labouti and a Bluethroat was fighting constantly for weeks until I have to remove the Bluethroat. Now with about 16 wrasses the Labouti will orcasionally chase the other wrasses but does not key on any one wrasse. No injury or damage at all.

 

[Rocklin Mike]

So today the temperament is gone...they are swimming together. This happens every so often. Good advice in this thread though.

 

[ReefTeacher]

I have a 180 gal mixed reef that I am redoing to feature more wrasses. In a tank this large would it be ok to mix a C. exquisites and a C. naokoae? I know the last one is pretty aggressive and the exquisite is passive, but in a large tank with a lot of current and corals and other fish are my chances better?

My LFS has a spectacular naokoae at a decent price, otherwise I wouldn't consider it. What do you all think?

 

[HairyGary]

I have a 180 gal mixed reef that I am redoing to feature more wrasses. In a tank this large would it be ok to mix a C. exquisites and a C. naokoae? I know the last one is pretty aggressive and the exquisite is passive, but in a large tank with a lot of current and corals and other fish are my chances better?

My LFS has a spectacular naokoae at a decent price, otherwise I wouldn't consider it. What do you all think?

Might be but also adding any other wrasse down the road will be difficult.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have a 180 gal mixed reef that I am redoing to feature more wrasses. In a tank this large would it be ok to mix a C. exquisites and a C. naokoae? I know the last one is pretty aggressive and the exquisite is passive, but in a large tank with a lot of current and corals and other fish are my chances better?

My LFS has a spectacular naokoae at a decent price, otherwise I wouldn't consider it. What do you all think?

Even in large tanks naokoae can be problematic to other fairy wrasses. If you were to attempt it then make it the last fairy, even then it may not work.

 

[jp_75]

This is H. claudia

This is H. biocellatus, also called Christmas wrasse

This link has a picture of H. ornatissimus

https://reefguide.org/ornatewrasse.html

Are you treating H. Biocellatus with Cupramine? Any problems in QT?

 

[saltyhog]

Are you treating H. Biocellatus with Cupramine? Any problems in QT?

That one went through TTM, Prazi x 3 and then 6 weeks of observation. He has transitioned to terminal phase male and looks much different now.

I now treat all my Halichoeres wrasses with CP and dewormer(prazi or general cure).

 

[Maacc]

Having a melanurus chase and nip a new moyeri leopard, melanurus doesn't chase anyone else and I have a solarensis, lineatus, yellow, 8 line flasher, isosceles, possum , and exquisite. I am going to try a mirror but today was his first day out in a week and he was forced to bury in an hour.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Having a melanurus chase and nip a new moyeri leopard, melanurus doesn't chase anyone else and I have a solarensis, lineatus, yellow, 8 line flasher, isosceles, possum , and exquisite. I am going to try a mirror but today was his first day out in a week and he was forced to bury in an hour.

Did you use an acc box to add him to the display ?
You may want to trap the melanurus and put him in the acc box for a few days so things can calm down.

 

[jp_75]

CP is Copper Power, right?

 

[saltyhog]

CP is Copper Power, right?

Oooops, sorry. No, CP is our abbreviation for Chloriquine phosphate.