Caught in the act

[stoneroller]

In the middle of the night, I watched several very large, brown blotched/striped amphipods literally chew up the skirt of one of my Zoanthus giganticus (people eater types). It doesn't look pretty today. They've apparently hit some others as well. :nailbiting:

I have a blue-sided fairy wrasse in the tank to guard my polyps. He's not doing such a good job.

I have a six line in a smaller tank and I am thinking about adding it to the mix to dent the pod-population.

The main tank is 72 g. Fish are the fairy wrasse, pink spot watchman goby, algae blenny, orbicular cardinal, scopas tang, and a small false percula. I am not worried about the bioload but about fish conflicts. Disaster mixing the two wrasses?

Any other fish suggestions? Any night-feeding reef safe wrasses or other small fish?

[erikharrison]

Well, angels are nice, a bi-color will eat pods. On the other hand, they could possibly eat zoas or nip at clam mantles. Mine has yet to do that, but I know it's possible. I have a 75 gallon and mine seems happy. I have also noticed a particular set of PE type zoas that had frayed edges as well. Since the intro of the angel, the PEs are looking better. It may be linked, it may not. I didn't look at my tank at night to notice. Your other bet would be a (single) mandarin.

[apedroza]

I would try the 6-line. They are very good at controlling pods!!! yellowCoris and xmas wrasses are also excellent pod eaters.

[RayAllen]

Xmas wrasses eat everything, lol.

[txstateunivreefer]

kevin go with the six line they do a great job as far as a wrasse fight goes id say it would depend on them

[MissT]

the wrasses should get along fine. Sixlines occasionally have a bad reputation for harassing other fish, but mine completely minds his own business ( and eats pods, flatworms, etc.) They are an excellent form of pest control and are decent looking fish to boot...

[Jeff]

if it is a biig enough tank go with a christmas wrasse, ray allen's has eaten flatworms,pods ,zoa eating nidibranches, and anything big enough to put into it's mouth.

[stoneroller]

72 g. big enough?

[apedroza]

I have a coris and an xmas wrasse in mine Kevin. Should be fine!!!

[caferacermike]

Not sure if this will help in your tank. I used to have a copepod farm in my tank a few months back. I bought a UV sterilizer and an ozone generator to help keep the water clear. The first thing I noticed was that in 2 weeks I had zero pods. I don't considered that a good thing but it may help you.

[stoneroller]

Thanks, all. I wouldn't say I am overpopulated w/pods but have some that have a hankering for zoameat. If I can't find a XMAS wrasse quick I am going to throw in the sixline.

[apedroza]

Check with Aquatek, they carry them often. Thats where I got mine.