This is an article that lines out the hardiness and aggressiveness of the various genus and species of wrasse commonly available for aquarist. There is a lot of other information available in the article but if you scroll down it will describe all the species in each genus. There is also a compatability chart for fariy wrasse only that can help you decide what will mix There are always individual variances (aggressive individuals in usually passive speicies and vice versa) but this has always worked for me. http://www.reef2reef.com/threads/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.259894/ http://www.reef2reef.com/ams/cirrhilabrus-complexes-inferiority-need-not-apply.17/
The most awesome part about this is the fact that I was just coming on here to ask @huntindoc if he would do a post about Wrasses. I don't know why this didn't pop up on my feed last night. What makes it a Fairy Wrasse? Are there key ID features that separate Fairy Wrasses from non Fairy Wrasses? John
Fairy wrasse are those in the genus Cirrhilabrus. They all have roughly the same shape. The only common characteristic I can see is that they flutter the most caudal end of their dorsal fin....kind of like Tinkerbell's wings. I assume that's why they carry that common name. Many of the Paracheilinus genus (flasher wrasse) also do this but the flashers are much smaller as a rule and have a different shape. Just look at the latin name where they're sold and that will tell you if they are fairies or not.
Doc, When I google Scott's Fairy Wrasse, some have a point (maybe streamer is the proper term) at the end of their tail while others don't. What is the difference? Mine definitely has one. John
I think mine is the Australian version but I am not 100% sure. It may be the Fiji. It is not the Cook Islands version.
Never heard of streamers on a Scott's. They do get a kind of diamond shaped tail when they are mature. Can you get a picture of him?
No. I have only seen him 3 times today. Once swimming next to a rock on the back right and twice behind or underneath the Green Long Tentacle Plate coral. Jen thought he was dead because of how he was positioned but he was obviously breathing and watching every move intently. I found a picture with an article that mentioned the spike. I guess it is normal. I wish more photos showed it. http://www.101-saltwater-aquarium.com/fishes-information/scotts-fairy-wrasse.php
I had one of those ordered (they're now calling it a Magma Wrasse) but it's too closely related to my Flame so I cancelled it. That spiked tale is awesome! Earle's wrasse sometimes have that and it makes them even more expensive!
Mine most certainly has it. This fish is sparking something in me that I haven't done a lot of in a while, researching a species. I like it. I have always researched everything thuroughly prior to buying it. This one was a little different. I knew what I was getting in to but I didn't know the little stuff. I miss the little stuff.
Not really Natalie. The only wrasse suitable for a tank that size would be a Possum(Wetmorella genus) wrasse which are not one of the genus that are known to eat coral pests (Halichoeres, Pseudocheilinus)
Any thoughts on a tank mate, fish/shrimp/or other, compatible with my starry blenny and my soft corals? I think the "bugs" that I saw were not so teeny tiny pods that look a bit like shrimp. Right now, there's nothing in the tank to eat the pods. The starry blenny has declared himself vegan. And there's nothing more satisfying than watching him rip algae off of the halimeda! The 28 gallon cube has about 30# of rock. The starry blenny has the run of the place right now with a few hermits and snails to keep him company. Most of the sand is covered with rock, except right up front. I'm not sure a sand dweller would feel comfortable, unless he's quite tiny and able to burrow in the channels between the rock islands or at the very back of the tank...but that's where the blenny likes to hang out when feeling insecure. I've had 2 peppermint shrimp. One went rogue when I brought home freshly cut frags. He morphed into edward scissor hands all over the new frags (and I thought, wow he's a thorough cleaner) and then moved about to my hidden cup coral. I nearly yanked his antennae off his little bulgy eyeballs when I saw cup coral tentacles floating above his head. Fortunately, I was able to contain myself and took him to the fish store for rehabilitation. The cup coral have managed a full recovery. And I'm satisfied that if ever I'm lost at sea, I can catch shrimp with my bare hands in shallow lagoons, especially if I've adopted the local corals hanging out on the rocks, and "scary mommy protector Natalie" comes out. The second peppermint, much smaller, never bothered new frags, but shortly after a molting I found him upside down at the bottom of the tank before work. I was running late for work, so couldn't stop to scoop him out. A few hours later I came back ...and he was gone! Just a tiny little pile of grey ash. I think the monster bristle worm took him out, but still not sure. No body, no crime. I think I'm going to try one of those diy bottle with straw worm catchers in the next couple of weeks. Any thoughts on docile tank mates that eat meaty foods, won't mess with my starry or my corals, and won't feel claustrophobic in my tiny tank?
Well like Doc mentioned, your best wrasse choice isn't much of a coral pest remover. It sounds to me though that isn't your problem. You just want someone to eat pods. Those little guys will do that. I have one of these. They are also known as Starry Eyed Possum Wrasse. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+3041&pcatid=3041
You had me at possum...but that little guy is cute! Will he help eat a bit of the leftover mysis that my suncoral completely ignore? I am just a little concerned about these "bugs"...I honestly can't see them well enough to identify them and they are gathering right where the yumas were dying. They look a lot like this photo, but there were no real comments regarding whether it's bad or not, from a reef central post.
