pest eating wrasse?

[tebstan]

I've always had the Scott's Fairy Wrasse on my fish wish list.

They're beautiful, but ultimately I want the fish to serve a purpose. If it's not a pest eater, it's not worth the price.

Has anyone had this particular kind of fairy wrasse, and did it eat bristle worms?

[BSJF]

Have you considered a Melanurus wrasse? I just discovered them.

[tebstan]

I've seen them mentioned on threads here, but have never actually seen one in person. A google image search is unreliable; are they really that similar looking to a lunar wrasse?

[Mr Cob]

I have a melanurus wrasse that I picked up from Ismael a few months ago. I love it. I think it is nicer than a lunar because the stripes go across the length of the entire body. It's great at cleaning the rocks of pests. Well behaved in my 55g which he will be moved to the 220 g when it's up. He was trouble in the 85g because he kept throwing sand on all the frags near the bottom as if he was digging for more sand. The 85g is shallow sand 1" or less where as my 55g is 5"+ sand bed that he sleeps in every night.

[stoneroller]

I haven't seen any of the fairy wrasses come close to the hunting "intensity" as the other wrasses - lunar, xmas, hoeven's - larger Halichoeres types

[tebstan]

I like the fins and dainty look on fairys and flashers. No one has experience with the Scott's?

How about any of these:

Red Tail flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
McCosker's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)
Yellow Fin flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus flavianalis)
Carpenter's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)


If none of these have been spotted eating bristle worms, I'd be willing to try the Canary wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) or Whitebelly wrasse. (Halichoeres leucoxanthus)

[tebstan]

I haven't seen any of the fairy wrasses come close to the hunting "intensity" as the other wrasses - lunar, xmas, hoeven's - larger Halichoeres types

Maybe not with the same intensity... but do they eat worms at all?! *crossing fingers* I like them so much more than the Halichoeres.

You say "larger" Halichoeres... how about the canary and white belly?

[Regric25]

Here is a pic of my Melinarus wrasse. Its very well behaved like Rob said it gets along with all my fish. Its fully grown at 5" and is a very good hunter of pests. This guy hasnt really given me any issues with disturbing the sand bed except for when it burries its self to go to sleep at night. Its in the link below post #46 4th picture down.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?59612-New!-Now-With-Pictures-RR-Rimless-100-Gallon-Setup/page5

[kkiel02]

I wouldnt buy a fairy wrasse expecting it to eat pests. Sixlines are also(along with the above mentioned) very good at pest control but if you add them with fairy wrasses, add them after the fairies as I added a lubbucks and blue head fairy after my sixline was introduced and the sixline wouldnt leave them alone.

[tebstan]

I don't like the six lines... any others you'd recommend?

[FireWater]

What size tank?

I agree with the others in that none of the fairy wrasses that I have had were seen eating or hunting down pests.

I have always liked the Ornate / Christmas Wrasse for a larger tank. I also have a Pink Streaked Wrasse in my 30g that is pretty cool.

[tebstan]

Its a 90g.
When I google pink streaked, it just looks like a 6 line...?

[ErikH]

I have a melanarus wrasse too, very cool fish, semi aggressive swimmer but peaceful with tankmates.

[FireWater]

They look similar, but the pink streaked wrasse has a better disposition and some differences. It also does not get as big as a 6 line.

[tebstan]

So it's the Halichoeres that eat the bristleworms, huh? Yet they also seem to be the ones with the snotty attitude... If it has to be a Halichoeres I'd go with a yellow or green.

I don't have a bristle worm infestation, just a serious dislike of them right now. I don't need a fish to hunt down pests with a fiery vengeance, but a wrasse that will earn his keep would be nice.

[FireWater]

I have heard of people having good luck with the yellow wrasse. Decent temperament too.

[ShAgMaN]

Today I was informed that a yellow coris wrasse can eat AEFW. In fact, the LFS owner insisted whenever he introduced SPS w/ AEFW, the wrasse would demolish the flat worms in minutes. Not sure if this is factual, but pretty freaking cool if so.