Aurortpa Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 >This post probably would do better in the fish forum so here goes. Never thought my most favorite piece of my reef would be some macro algae--my dragon's breath, lol. So now I'm withdrawing my plans to put a centropyge in the tank and maybe go for a wrasse, once my tank gets more established. I really don't want to risk my macro being shredded for lunch, seems to be flourishing in my new nutrient filled tank (nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, phosphates all 0--or more likely undetectable as I have a lovely shade of lime green all over my glass and rocks at the moment lol). I was thinking a mystery wrasse but I keep reading about how they eat shrimp and hermits as they get bigger. I wasn't too keen on the fairy/flasher wrasses as I heard they can fade without the presence of another and I'm not sure I want to keep two wrasses in my tank, seems too much of a bio load. The Tanaka seems so cute but I read it hides a lot and I'm looking for a fish that will swim all over. Have a watchman and percula right now. I've already had a six line in the past, mine were always so mean so no to them. Any wrasse keepers out there have a suggestion? I'm open to other fish others have kept as long as they don't pick on macro or shrimp! Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 So far my Sixline has left everything but copapods alone Link to comment
Aurortpa Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 So far my Sixline has left everything but copapods alone Goes to show you, each livestock can act differently in tank to tank! I'm looking for something a tad bigger at max size of 4-5" Totally sad that a mystery wrasse is possibly out of the picture...started looking into leopard wrasses but it seems scary hard to keep alive, guessing feeding requirements. Where are the wrasse keepers at?! lol Link to comment
Rehype Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Yellow 4 spot wrasse is an awesome wrasse. Very active and doesn't bother anyone. Link to comment
Aurortpa Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 Yellow 4 spot wrasse is an awesome wrasse. Very active and doesn't bother anyone. Absolutely gorgeous! Would totally look into it if I didn't already have a YWG. I have yellow and orange fish...looking for some other colorings. Link to comment
Rehype Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Absolutely gorgeous! Would totally look into it if I didn't already have a YWG. I have yellow and orange fish...looking for some other colorings. How about a christmas wrasse or a McCoskers Flasher wrasse? Similar temperament.. Link to comment
Aurortpa Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 Nice! Do you know if the christmas wrasse keeps its coloration or does it fade without other wrasses? Link to comment
Rehype Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Nice! Do you know if the christmas wrasse keeps its coloration or does it fade without other wrasses? It keeps its coloration although if its a male its colors would likely intensify in the presence of a female. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Not sure you really need to worry so much about the fading. Have you seen a faded one? Either way I believe fairy wrasses (genus Cirrhilabrus) don't fade as often. Plus many of them get larger, some in the 5-6" range. Granted you have a smaller size cube style tank so having a larger fish that tends to swim a lot could be an issue and stress out the other fish. So I would still stick with something smaller. I say go for the fairy wrasse if you want a wrasse. Very peaceful, very nice looking, not usually too hard to find, and exhibits most of the characteristics that you want. Personally I would avoid genus Halichoeres... they are peaceful but as they get larger they can become more predatory to small crustaceans and they require a deep sand bed (like 3"). They burrow at night and dive bomb it during the day to find prey or to hide. Makes a mess. If you're looking for other nice fish check out some damsels - talbots damsels are nice, standard yellowtail blue damsels rock, and I really like the alleni damsel (also called neon damsel). All 3 of these damsels swim around constantly, stay small and should remain peaceful. Also they won't bother your shrimp or your macros. Link to comment
Aurortpa Posted January 23, 2016 Author Share Posted January 23, 2016 Wow, thanks ajmckay, good points! Will definitely consider a fairy wrasse. Idk about a damsel tho, my fish are really peaceful and most damsels I have seen grow up go psychotic, lol. Are those species more docile? Im also considering the Tanaka wrasse. That one stays kinda small. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 I've never had a tanakas wrasse, but apparently they are a shy species. But seems like people still like them even if they hide a lot. As for the damsels, the 3 I mentioned are the more peaceful varieties, less aggressive than the clownfiah in all honesty. Damsels and clowns are by far the most popular fish in the saltwater hobby - and for good reason. They exhibit the majority of the characteristics that people like. For the most part they're swimming nonstop, they're hardy, vibrantly colored, reef safe, cheap, feed well, and at least with the species I mentioned they are reasonably peaceful. Good luck with whatever you decide. Don't feel like you have to rush, try to get something you'll like for a long time. Link to comment
Squared Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Your halymenia is not at risk from a centropyge, I have a venustus in my macro tank and I've never seem show any interest in any of my algae. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 I forgot to comment how awesome and beautiful your macro is!!! Where did you get it from? I just started a refugium and dragons breath is on my list of possibilities. Here's my fuge: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/369004-chaeto-1-month-growth/ Regarding if fish eat it, I've read that most species of Halymenia were quite liked by fish - being similar to green Ulva... I've never kept it - but check out this awesome online "book" on macros - there's a quick blurb under the "Red macro" page. http://marineplantbook.com/marinebookindex.htm Link to comment
ndrobey Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 An Azure Damsel is very peaceful, a very vibrant blue color, swims in the open constantly, doesn't touch plants or inverts, eats well, is very available and inexpensive. Link to comment
4x5 Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 How about a christmas wrasse or a McCoskers Flasher wrasse? Similar temperament.. A Christmas Wrasse is beautiful but will likely destroy shrimps. Mine ate all my Sexy Shrimps and Cleaner Shrimps when it got bigger. Nice! Do you know if the christmas wrasse keeps its coloration or does it fade without other wrasses? They stay vibrant while they grow. Link to comment
mallek Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 i wouldnt give up on the standard issue black spotted leopard wrasses, mine at less than an inch withstood a lot of bullying from my larger 6 line before i could get that jerk out. shortly thereafter the leopard took to frozen foods and has been growing quickly, keeping to himself and my favorite fish:) Link to comment
Aurortpa Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 I forgot to comment how awesome and beautiful your macro is!!! Where did you get it from? I just started a refugium and dragons breath is on my list of possibilities. Here's my fuge: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/369004-chaeto-1-month-growth/ Regarding if fish eat it, I've read that most species of Halymenia were quite liked by fish - being similar to green Ulva... I've never kept it - but check out this awesome online "book" on macros - there's a quick blurb under the "Red macro" page. http://marineplantbook.com/marinebookindex.htm I think I have decided on a flasher or fairy wrasse. I don't mind if it fades to just a plain red cause that's the color I want anyway, lol. I made a boo boo and got an ornate wrasse (one of the Christmas wrasses) but was super fortunate I found out, as 4X5 said, she may eat my inverts so I was equally super lucky getting her out of the tank. (when I saw her dive in the gravel, I was able to put a coke bottle top over the gravel and trap her). As for my Dragon's Breath, thank you! Everybody loves the pics of it, lol. It did NOT look like that when I got it. It was a tiny frag that was a dark maroon color. The flame tips I think grow in when it's actually growing. It's towards the bottom of my tank, however it is under the daylight section of my tank and I put it in direct flow, which it loves. So if you ever get any, make sure it gets a lot of turbulence or flow. I think it helps it absorb nutrients is my guess. I got it from my LFS--already got tons of request from my local reefers to frag it haha--soon! Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 I think I have decided on a flasher or fairy wrasse. I don't mind if it fades to just a plain red cause that's the color I want anyway, lol. I made a boo boo and got an ornate wrasse (one of the Christmas wrasses) but was super fortunate I found out, as 4X5 said, she may eat my inverts so I was equally super lucky getting her out of the tank. (when I saw her dive in the gravel, I was able to put a coke bottle top over the gravel and trap her). As for my Dragon's Breath, thank you! Everybody loves the pics of it, lol. It did NOT look like that when I got it. It was a tiny frag that was a dark maroon color. The flame tips I think grow in when it's actually growing. It's towards the bottom of my tank, however it is under the daylight section of my tank and I put it in direct flow, which it loves. So if you ever get any, make sure it gets a lot of turbulence or flow. I think it helps it absorb nutrients is my guess. I got it from my LFS--already got tons of request from my local reefers to frag it haha--soon! Yes it should help with nutrient export (it absorbs nutrients then you effectively take out the nutrients when you "harvest" a chunk. It looks like yours is growing good I would like to get some someday, however, my current algae may outcompete it. I've been "harvesting" 2 gallon size ziplock baggies of chaeto for 2 months now - it's crazy. As for the wrasse I think you'll like a fairy or flasher a lot. Link to comment
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