Hoeven's Wrasse

[aggman]

hoeven's wrasse
halichoeres melanurus

hey does anyone have any experience with this awesome wrasse. i think they are probably one of the most beautiful wrasse's i've seen. it kind of reminds me of a six-line crossed with yellow coris...no-am i way off on this?

i know i'm gonna pay for this...but, i really don't like any of the 'red' wrasse's...fairies, filaments, flashers...blah, blah...haha, j/k...but no really...blah.

on some sites the hoeven's are listed as reef-safe, other mention with caution. i dunno, what do you guys think?



http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+1378

http://www.reefhotspot.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=881

i have also done some research on the web and found that most do consider them reef-safe with proper care and a good diet. apparently it is closely related to the christmas, yellow, and radiant. all of which are reef-safe. so what do you guys think.

i am probably going to get one, test the waters, so to speak, before i add any high dollar corals to my new setup once built.

any input is greatly appreciated...

hey solid and hobogato, this is the one i was talking about yesterday.

~alex

[JimD]

Without reviewing the links, I believe thats also known as the 'twin/tail spot wrasse', supposedly a species known to regularly eat Planaria or red flatworms and may have an effect on your sandbed fauna, if you have one.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...85&pcatid=2285

[aggman]

Without reviewing the links, I believe thats also known as the 'twin/tail spot wrasse', supposedly a species known to regularly eat Planaria or red flatworms and may have an effect on your sandbed fauna, if you have one.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...85&pcatid=2285

lol, yeah that is the same link i posted. yeah i kind of like the idea of this beautiful fish actually having a purpose...protecting my corals and clams. they also eat flatworms and pyramidellids.

so really i was just wondering if anyone had any experiences with these guys going rogue and munching on corals.

~alex

[JimD]

Being a wrasse, they're prone to being unpredictable, depends on the individual.

[hobogato]

matt (the acrylic master who used to frequent the boards) had one for a long time. they are beautiful - much better in person than in that pic. it cleaned his tank up when he had red flatworms and never bothered his corals.

[JimD]

Gary P. also had one or two and was very successful with the red flatworms.

[aggman]

well it sounds like a winner. i will be ordering two, if i find that they aren't good tankmates together i will sell one. man, i can't wait for these guys to add some life (and color) to my system.

~alex

[aggman]

oh and just for good measure...

i plan on keeping 4-5 sunburst anthias's, 2 hoeven's wrasse's, 4-5 african blue/green chomis's...and i want something else just haven't decided what yet. something pretty big and showy, but docile.

got any ideas...let me know.

~alex