Wrasse Experts Needed!

Hey guys, stopped by my LFS for some fish food and saw this guy... He was labeled Xmas wrasse but don't know what kind...

I have a 72G tank w/2 clowns and a onespot foxface...

Will this wrasse go well with them? Plus I plan on getting another wrasse or 2 at most in the future to add in to the tank... so need to know if he will be ok to add now and get along w/future additions.

Also is he reef safe? Right now I only have an Acan frag and some Rics...

Help?

Xmas Wrasse at LFS - YouTube

 

Anyone??

 

Looks like one to me, however, I'm not the resident wrasse expert, you may want to shoot a pm to evolved.

Reef safe with caution, meaning they'll probably go after some inverts. Here's Liveaquaria's info on them.

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Christmas Wrasse, Fiji

 

Sure is, looks just like mine. Xmas aka ornate wrasse in some cases. It will get long just fine with everyone. Mine takes no notice to anyone and gets along fine. Only thing it ever does is every once in a while it and my melanarus wrasse like to get a little upclose with each other but thats it. They are a great addition to a tank imo.

 

Thanks guys, I will def reach out to Evolved as well!!

 

Right; first a general note on Halichoeres. They're all coral safe, but will target your mobile inverts to some degree. This is generally isolated to snails and/or crabs however, and to varying degrees depending on species and individuals.

Without diverging into a rant about why ID'ing on common names is less than wise, I'll offer this.

There are three species of Halichores which might be called a "Christmas" wrasse: H. biocellatus, H. claudia, and H. ornatissimus. Each of those are unique, including their temperaments. The common names I prefer for them are Redlined Wrasse, Christmas Wrasse, and Ornate Wrasse, respectively, but common names vary by region and by person to person.

Now, will all of that out of the way, this fish is Halichoeres ornatissimus. These get large (7"), typically pack a bit of an attitude once mature, and usually love hermits and snails.

Adding more wrasse in the future with this one might be possible, but it also might not be possible. Simply depends on this particular specimen's disposition.

 

What other wrasse do you plan on adding? If they would be fairly large wrasse, then I'd say you'd be way overstocked.

 

Two clowns, a foxface and 2 wrasse are 'way' overstocked? I would say differently, but thats my opinion, I stock heavy.

 

Depending on the species, yes. The clowns could be maroons which get huge, and a ton of wrasse out there get a foot big or even larger.

 

Something along the lines of a Lineatus, Melanurus, and potters? Or maybe 2 of those...