Concidering A Wrasse, Whats Your Thoughts On These...

[Alex Brown]

I would like a reef safe wrasse to add to my tank. Its 250L reef, with 2 humbug damsels and two common clowns - all fish are under 3cm.

What are your thoughts on the following three fish. I picked them purely on thier looks. Im now looking into the needs for them and would like anyones input and knowledge!

Thanks.

Purpelhead Parrot Wrasse

http/www.aquaticlifedirect.co.uk/Fish/Sa...d_Parrot_Wrasse

Exquisite Wrasse

http/www.aquaticlifedirect.co.uk/Fish/Sa...xquisite_Wrasse

Leopard Wrasse

http/www.aquaticlifedirect.co.uk/Fish/Sa.../Leopard_Wrasse

 

[SkiFletch]

First two's needs are identical and are easy to care for. Leopard wrasses are difficult to keep however, I would reccomend against one.

 

[ben1987]

i prefer the Exquisite Wrasse, seen a few of these in shops and they really are stunners.

 

[scott133]

never had much luck with leapord wrases

 

[Alex Brown]

And how about a cleaner wrasse? I have read that they are hard fish to care for?

I didnt have much luck in keeping my Banner Butterfly fish, but that was 4 months ago, and only 2 months into my tank. Now the tank has been running over 6 months and my corals, anemone, clownfish and humbugs are thriving. Could the conditions be stable for a more delicate fish now?

 

[TigerIssey]

IMO these should be left in the sea. There is not enough of there nautural diet in the aquarium.

 

[Alex Brown]

The cleaner wrasse do you mean?

 

[TigerIssey]

Sorry, yes the cleaner wrasse, they feed on parasites found on fish. There is no where near enough of a supply in the aquarium to sustain them.

 

[ben1987]

Some cleaner wrasse do take prepared food aswel though, but imo your tank isnt suitable. They need big fish to feed off and lots of them to best re-create their natural diet

 

[Yuri]

i have got a cleaner wrasse for5 months and is doing grate
He eats any frosen food

 

[shibby]

the reason cleaner wrasse should be left in the wild is because of the important jobs they do in the wild not because of the diet, many readily accept frozen, but still they should be left to do ther jobs in the sea

 

[Lynden]

Of the three Labroides dimidiatus (the one pictured) I have kept, two fed very well on frozen foods. They are not all that difficult to keep and they really are a fun fish to keep. Ironically, mine both perished during disease outbreaks.

The other Labroides, of course, have a very poor survival record in captivity. Only L. dimidiatus should ever be attempted.

However there is a good reason I haven't bought another one; I agree with the above posts that they should be left on their cleaning stations.

 

[charles bentley]

Bannana top wrasse are easy to look after and do good stuff to watch.