Melanurus Wrasse For the Win!

Sana48 · 03/01/2016, 02:14 PM

I was going to put this in the advanced forum but I'll stay modest.

I am extremely OCD and cautious about what goes in my tank therefore I religiously quarantine/dip NOTHING as it enters my tank. This has created all sorts of fun and exciting side-roads during this fascinating hobby (Sink or Swim Baby). The latest of these exciting off-road adventures led me to discover a very nice population of the ever illusive yet coveted rusty looking flatworm.
Seeing how these little guys would not relent- and continued to play the selfish smug role of "gangsta gangsta" I decided enough was enough. After some research I purchased some Flatworm Exit because I heard it was quite the dangerous thing to do. Once I received it in the mail I opened the box, read the instructions, and then I just couldn't do it. I wouldnt be able to live with myself knowing that I was essentially waging chemical warfare in my docile and peaceful marine magic-fairy-place.

I booked it to the aquarium store and purchased a Six-Line Wrasse. WOW was he beautiful! My favorite fish so far!

ya, so he disappeared in 2 days- never to be seen again....sigh

I then purchased a Melanurus Wrasse- this dude is the freakin terminator of energizer bunnies. He does not stop picking off the "gangsta gangsta's" for one second.

He has waged an indignant and ruthless militaristic campaign on these guys and I am concerned that once the flatworms die off he will go all AWOL and end up destroying everything....so be it.

Moral of the story: DO not wage chemical warfare before trying out at least one special commando.

Melanurusususus the Wrasse has earned his keep, the gangsta gangstas are gone (visibly at least) and I now have a fish on a mission and with a purpose.

BE WISE SOLDIER

splix · 03/01/2016, 02:40 PM

I love my melanurus. Once he kills all the flatworms he'll be fine. Mine never nips at coral or inverts. He goes nuts for any food I put in, including nori. Always swimming, never shy.

mav3rick478 · 03/01/2016, 02:42 PM

How ironic because I just got an outbreak of flatworms, I was a renegade and didn't dip my new zoa rock, and was advised to get a Melanurus Wrasse. Sounds like that will be my direction rather fragments FWE, plus I've been wanting a new fish.

Sana48 · 03/01/2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mav3rick478

plus I've been wanting a new fish.

I love this wrasse. He'll swim in circles and then nosedive into the sand effectively disappearing, then he'll shoot straight up out the sand making it snow sand lol... he's quite the character.

Sana48 · 03/01/2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splix

I love my melanurus. Once he kills all the flatworms he'll be fine. Mine never nips at coral or inverts. He goes nuts for any food I put in, including nori. Always swimming, never shy.

excellent news, I really like this guy and would hate to have to take him back

reefbroao · 03/01/2016, 06:18 PM

Love my melanurus. So bold. Always hunting and I never ever have pest problems. I attribute that to him, never even seen a flatworm in this tank. I have seen him carrying around a hermit before but he can do whatever he wants, I love him too much to get rid of him.

Sana48 · 03/01/2016, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefbroao

Love my melanurus. So bold. Always hunting and I never ever have pest problems. I attribute that to him, never even seen a flatworm in this tank. I have seen him carrying around a hermit before but he can do whatever he wants, I love him too much to get rid of him.

Mine doesnt appear as colorful as others I have seen in pics. Will they change colors as they mature or is mine simply not colorful?

Dkuhlmann · 03/02/2016, 05:31 AM

What are you feeding it? Some foods bring out better colors of fish than others.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

What are you feeding it? Some foods bring out better colors of fish than others.

Flatworms and mysis

JohnnyHildo · 03/02/2016, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sana48

Mine doesnt appear as colorful as others I have seen in pics. Will they change colors as they mature or is mine simply not colorful?

just an idea... perhaps your melanurus is a female which i read don't seem to color up as much.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 07:08 AM

It's possible, and I've only owned her/him for 5 days. Came from the aquarium store looking dull.

Dkuhlmann · 03/02/2016, 07:23 AM

I would highly suggest that you add a quality pellet food to their diet so there is some variation and balance to their diet. I use and recommend NLS pellets and they're arguably the best pellets for marine fish. The vitamins in the mix help to promote better coloration in marine fish. I've also not seen many fish that don't want to eat them. This would also cut down on your mysis expense. I feed mysis, frozen mix and NLS pellets. There are other quality pellets on the market but from what I've seen and read from others is that NLS is the #1 pellet used.

And yes of course your fish could be a female, but in the end they all turn male if no male is present.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 07:26 AM

I look into picking up some NLS pellets today. Thanks

Reef Bass · 03/02/2016, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyHildo

just an idea... perhaps your melanurus is a female which i read don't seem to color up as much.

Female +1

I also love my melanurus. Bold, energetic, active, super colorful. However, can be a bully. Cannot tolerate any other wrasses in the tank.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef Bass

Female +1

I also love my melanurus. Bold, energetic, active, super colorful. However, can be a bully. Cannot tolerate any other wrasses in the tank.

This must be the case because mine looks nothing like the colorful samples I've seen elsewhere.

Assuming that mine will turn into a male this would also mean mine will eventually inherit the male traits such as the colors?

Dkuhlmann · 03/02/2016, 07:34 AM

Depending on what other fish you have I would suggest getting the 1mm pellets as most fish can eat that size easily.

I use to have a Hector's goby (disappeared one day never to be seen again

) That only ate NLS pellets other than his sand sifting. He wouldn't eat mysis or the frozen mix but loved the NLS pellets.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Depending on what other fish you have I would suggest getting the 1mm pellets as most fish can eat that size easily.

I'll do that, most of my fish (fishes?) are juveniles.

Jdomico · 03/02/2016, 10:56 AM

Mine did the same - wipe out the flatworm population. I haven't seen a single one since I put him in my 160g tank. Now he just eats the ReefFrenzy frozen food I add once a day. Plus it's beautiful, hasn't bothered a single other fish or coral, and is always swimming in the front. My favorite fish by far - glad to hear about your success!

Dkuhlmann · 03/02/2016, 10:56 AM

"Fish" is correct in both singular and plural.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

"Fish" is correct in both singular and plural.

Actually. ..

http://grammarist.com/usage/fish-fishes/

Dkuhlmann · 03/02/2016, 06:43 PM

Sana I look at it like the word Shrimp, which is also both singular and plural, the word Shrimps drives me wacko

reefbroao · 03/02/2016, 06:46 PM

Mine absolutely loves mysis, and nori. and will sometimes steal squid from my snowflake.

Sana48 · 03/02/2016, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Sana I look at it like the word Shrimp, which is also both singular and plural, the word Shrimps drives me wacko

Oh I completely understand, I hate the word fishes as well.

03/01/2016, 06:18 PM	#6
reefbroao Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Seattle Posts: 747	Love my melanurus. So bold. Always hunting and I never ever have pest problems. I attribute that to him, never even seen a flatworm in this tank. I have seen him carrying around a hermit before but he can do whatever he wants, I love him too much to get rid of him. __________________ Reefer 170 E series.

03/02/2016, 05:31 AM	#8
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	What are you feeding it? Some foods bring out better colors of fish than others. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

03/02/2016, 07:23 AM	#12
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I would highly suggest that you add a quality pellet food to their diet so there is some variation and balance to their diet. I use and recommend NLS pellets and they're arguably the best pellets for marine fish. The vitamins in the mix help to promote better coloration in marine fish. I've also not seen many fish that don't want to eat them. This would also cut down on your mysis expense. I feed mysis, frozen mix and NLS pellets. There are other quality pellets on the market but from what I've seen and read from others is that NLS is the #1 pellet used. And yes of course your fish could be a female, but in the end they all turn male if no male is present. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

03/02/2016, 07:34 AM	#16
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Depending on what other fish you have I would suggest getting the 1mm pellets as most fish can eat that size easily. I use to have a Hector's goby (disappeared one day never to be seen again ) That only ate NLS pellets other than his sand sifting. He wouldn't eat mysis or the frozen mix but loved the NLS pellets. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

03/02/2016, 10:56 AM	#19
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	"Fish" is correct in both singular and plural. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

03/01/2016, 02:14 PM	#1
Sana48 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 43	Melanurus Wrasse For the Win! I was going to put this in the advanced forum but I'll stay modest. I am extremely OCD and cautious about what goes in my tank therefore I religiously quarantine/dip NOTHING as it enters my tank. This has created all sorts of fun and exciting side-roads during this fascinating hobby (Sink or Swim Baby). The latest of these exciting off-road adventures led me to discover a very nice population of the ever illusive yet coveted rusty looking flatworm. Seeing how these little guys would not relent- and continued to play the selfish smug role of "gangsta gangsta" I decided enough was enough. After some research I purchased some Flatworm Exit because I heard it was quite the dangerous thing to do. Once I received it in the mail I opened the box, read the instructions, and then I just couldn't do it. I wouldnt be able to live with myself knowing that I was essentially waging chemical warfare in my docile and peaceful marine magic-fairy-place. I booked it to the aquarium store and purchased a Six-Line Wrasse. WOW was he beautiful! My favorite fish so far! ya, so he disappeared in 2 days- never to be seen again....sigh I then purchased a Melanurus Wrasse- this dude is the freakin terminator of energizer bunnies. He does not stop picking off the "gangsta gangsta's" for one second. He has waged an indignant and ruthless militaristic campaign on these guys and I am concerned that once the flatworms die off he will go all AWOL and end up destroying everything....so be it. Moral of the story: DO not wage chemical warfare before trying out at least one special commando. Melanurusususus the Wrasse has earned his keep, the gangsta gangstas are gone (visibly at least) and I now have a fish on a mission and with a purpose. BE WISE SOLDIER Last edited by Sana48; 03/01/2016 at 02:23 PM.

03/01/2016, 02:40 PM	#2
splix Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 374	I love my melanurus. Once he kills all the flatworms he'll be fine. Mine never nips at coral or inverts. He goes nuts for any food I put in, including nori. Always swimming, never shy.

03/01/2016, 02:42 PM	#3
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	How ironic because I just got an outbreak of flatworms, I was a renegade and didn't dip my new zoa rock, and was advised to get a Melanurus Wrasse. Sounds like that will be my direction rather fragments FWE, plus I've been wanting a new fish.

03/02/2016, 07:08 AM	#11
Sana48 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 43	It's possible, and I've only owned her/him for 5 days. Came from the aquarium store looking dull.

03/02/2016, 07:26 AM	#13
Sana48 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 43	I look into picking up some NLS pellets today. Thanks

03/02/2016, 10:56 AM	#18
Jdomico Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 5	Mine did the same - wipe out the flatworm population. I haven't seen a single one since I put him in my 160g tank. Now he just eats the ReefFrenzy frozen food I add once a day. Plus it's beautiful, hasn't bothered a single other fish or coral, and is always swimming in the front. My favorite fish by far - glad to hear about your success!

03/02/2016, 06:43 PM	#21
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Sana I look at it like the word Shrimp, which is also both singular and plural, the word Shrimps drives me wacko __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

03/02/2016, 06:46 PM	#22
reefbroao Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Seattle Posts: 747	Mine absolutely loves mysis, and nori. and will sometimes steal squid from my snowflake. __________________ Reefer 170 E series.