Melanurus Wrasse Really Reef-Safe?

abenak89 · 08/26/2016, 10:10 PM

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden...+3&ddid=321467

Just curious... live aquaria says it. I don't like most of the "reef-safe" wrasses listed on live aquaria but this one caught my eye on divers den. Any other reef safe wrasses that are stunning in color?

Pmj · 08/26/2016, 11:29 PM

Have no issue with my melanurus but only had him I think about two months now. Have SPS/LPS/Zoas and both a cleaner shrimp & pistol shrimp and he's great. Most annoying thing he does is always steal a huge chunk of nori when I feed it even though he's a carnivore.

mav3rick478 · 08/26/2016, 11:47 PM

Mine has not once touched any of my SPS, zoas, acans, chalice, blasto, leather, frogspawn or hammer corals. The only thing it bothered was my other wrasse when my white lights went out.

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drummerboyevil · 08/27/2016, 12:58 AM

Mine is a model citizen. Seems to love nori even more than the tangs. Fun to watch hunt pods and crustaceans...

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abenak89 · 08/27/2016, 02:59 AM

Awesome!!! Ty all!!

CJP63 · 08/27/2016, 07:10 AM

Mine has been perfect for 5 years. Great fish.

saltwatersmac · 08/27/2016, 08:05 AM

Mine doesn't bother corals but no shrimp allowed

Finland · 08/27/2016, 08:11 AM

My melarunus is fine with corals, but will take out any shrimp or mini brittles. Ok with the larger brittle star though.

Drewl117 · 08/27/2016, 08:15 AM

I had 1 that ate my clam and all my shrimp, it also picked at every zoanthid in the tank.

abenak89 · 08/27/2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwatersmac

Mine doesn't bother corals but no shrimp allowed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finland

My melarunus is fine with corals, but will take out any shrimp or mini brittles. Ok with the larger brittle star though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drewl117

I had 1 that ate my clam and all my shrimp, it also picked at every zoanthid in the tank.

Dang this took a turn for bad.. lol I have peppermint shrimp as I have aiptasia.. I want to be able to have them AS WELL AS cleaner shrimp. Having all this live is what entertains me in this new hobby of mine. So one colorful fish does not weigh out having no shrimp.. not going to risk it for 80 bucks..

Any COLORFUL TRUE REEF SAFE wrasses out there?

Ok just saw the lineatus on live aquaria... wow the colors wow the price! lol

also the exquisite looked pretty good.

Do these fish really jump a lot? How high? My water level is down some as I have a drilled 120g that I drilled so the water level sits lower do to that. Its about 2-3 inches down from the top or about 1-1.5 inches down from the black trim.

mav3rick478 · 08/27/2016, 09:18 AM

Yes they are jumpers, I just lost my Chrysus and I had a screen top but it did have holes in the back portion. He was also a model citizen but I also do not have any shrimp in my tank.

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abenak89 · 08/27/2016, 09:21 AM

dangg... idk if i want a lid/screen... hmmmmm

Pmj · 08/27/2016, 09:46 AM

I'm rimless. It's a risk with all fish though.

HidingReefer · 08/27/2016, 11:18 AM

Finally, a post I can add value to. My melanurus has been in my tank for two months and hes been an angel, he hasn't picked at any corals, or inverts. Having said that I wouldn't risk putting a shrimp in my tank. Also in the 2 months ive had him, hes almost doubled in size, super fat and healthy, but like said above ^ every fish is different. Also I would put a screen top, again I wouldn't risk my fish's life try this

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aq...4-netting.html

hogfanreefer · 08/27/2016, 12:39 PM

My Vrolik's (very closely related) has never bothered shrimp, snails or hermits. My feather dusters did disappear, however.

Jwfish13 · 08/27/2016, 12:46 PM

Mine has been great, hasn't touched my shrimp or any other livestock in the tank including coral. I agree mine loves nori as well

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abenak89 · 08/27/2016, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jwfish13

Mine has been great, hasn't touched my shrimp or any other livestock in the tank including coral. I agree mine loves nori as well

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

well my lfs has one decent size too.. might role the dice but still not convinced lol thank all for the replies keep the comments coming!

hartin461 · 08/27/2016, 01:46 PM

Got one that decimated my red bugs in no time. He is an adult male and has beautiful color.
He has tilted a few of my corals on the sand bed either searching for bugs or looking for a soft spot to call it a night.Other than that he makes a nice addition to my tank.

reefgeezer · 08/27/2016, 02:09 PM

I've got a 4 1/2" super male in my 75 DT. He's kinda like a a pet bird dog. He doesn't bother anything on purpose. He just kinda unintentionally gets in trouble... knocking over small rocks & unsecured corals, swimming too fast & close for comfort to smaller, less active fish, and stealing food from LPS corals.

That said, I'd never get rid of him.

degibson84 · 08/27/2016, 02:33 PM

I have a Melanurus and a yellow coris that both pick at my CUC.

mav3rick478 · 08/27/2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by degibson84

I have a Melanurus and a yellow coris that both pick at my CUC.

That's was my pair too, RIP to my little fighter Chrysus Wrasse.

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CStrickland · 08/27/2016, 06:16 PM

Reef-safe means they don't pick at coral, whether they eat CUC is separate, and any fish can jump given a good spook. Plus, the tendencies we assign to species are generalizations, fish def have their own personalities.

That said, my melanurus is def more prone to picking at snails when I am not feeding my usual heavy schedule. I've never seen her go for coral or nori, but she will pick around them for little worms and hydroids and stuff that congregate there.

I think they are among the easier wrasses to keep, and really a beautiful fish.

Lsufan · 08/27/2016, 09:28 PM

I like mine & she doesn't bother any corals but she does go after most of my inverts. She usually goes after the smaller snails but I do catch her flipping over a conch every once in a while. She did bite a leg off of one of my brittle stars that is about 4 or 5" but that only happened once & I have had her for about 2 years. I've heard of them going after clams but I have a 6" maxima that she has never bothered. Like I said, in my case I just can't keep any ceriths or nassarris snails.

AnselnEdie · 08/27/2016, 11:07 PM

Mine's never bothered any corals and he gets along fine with my cleaner shrimp. He does very occasionally pick on snails or hermits a little, but no big deal. He cleaned up all the flatworms and makes short work of any pods I put in.

Adam G · 08/28/2016, 05:00 PM

Plus 1 on them being jumpers. Better have a lid or net of some kind. Beautiful fish though. Mine never bothered anything coral or fish.

08/26/2016, 10:10 PM	#1
abenak89 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 146	Melanurus Wrasse Really Reef-Safe? http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden...+3&ddid=321467 Just curious... live aquaria says it. I don't like most of the "reef-safe" wrasses listed on live aquaria but this one caught my eye on divers den. Any other reef safe wrasses that are stunning in color?

08/27/2016, 08:11 AM	#8
Finland Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 617	My melarunus is fine with corals, but will take out any shrimp or mini brittles. Ok with the larger brittle star though. __________________ Andy Current Tank Info: 280 reef

08/27/2016, 12:39 PM	#15
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	My Vrolik's (very closely related) has never bothered shrimp, snails or hermits. My feather dusters did disappear, however. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

08/27/2016, 02:09 PM	#19
reefgeezer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 2,621	I've got a 4 1/2" super male in my 75 DT. He's kinda like a a pet bird dog. He doesn't bother anything on purpose. He just kinda unintentionally gets in trouble... knocking over small rocks & unsecured corals, swimming too fast & close for comfort to smaller, less active fish, and stealing food from LPS corals. That said, I'd never get rid of him. __________________ John, Current Tank Info: In-process, 90 Gallon SPS Reef

08/27/2016, 06:16 PM	#22
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Reef-safe means they don't pick at coral, whether they eat CUC is separate, and any fish can jump given a good spook. Plus, the tendencies we assign to species are generalizations, fish def have their own personalities. That said, my melanurus is def more prone to picking at snails when I am not feeding my usual heavy schedule. I've never seen her go for coral or nori, but she will pick around them for little worms and hydroids and stuff that congregate there. I think they are among the easier wrasses to keep, and really a beautiful fish. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

08/26/2016, 11:29 PM	#2
Pmj Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 229	Have no issue with my melanurus but only had him I think about two months now. Have SPS/LPS/Zoas and both a cleaner shrimp & pistol shrimp and he's great. Most annoying thing he does is always steal a huge chunk of nori when I feed it even though he's a carnivore.

08/26/2016, 11:47 PM	#3
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	Mine has not once touched any of my SPS, zoas, acans, chalice, blasto, leather, frogspawn or hammer corals. The only thing it bothered was my other wrasse when my white lights went out. Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

08/27/2016, 12:58 AM	#4
drummerboyevil Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 654	Mine is a model citizen. Seems to love nori even more than the tangs. Fun to watch hunt pods and crustaceans... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

08/27/2016, 02:59 AM	#5
abenak89 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 146	Awesome!!! Ty all!!

08/27/2016, 07:10 AM	#6
CJP63 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 20	Mine has been perfect for 5 years. Great fish.

08/27/2016, 08:05 AM	#7
saltwatersmac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NC Posts: 118	Mine doesn't bother corals but no shrimp allowed

08/27/2016, 08:15 AM	#9
Drewl117 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: NH Posts: 507	I had 1 that ate my clam and all my shrimp, it also picked at every zoanthid in the tank.

08/27/2016, 09:18 AM	#11
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	Yes they are jumpers, I just lost my Chrysus and I had a screen top but it did have holes in the back portion. He was also a model citizen but I also do not have any shrimp in my tank. Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

08/27/2016, 09:21 AM	#12
abenak89 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 146	dangg... idk if i want a lid/screen... hmmmmm

08/27/2016, 09:46 AM	#13
Pmj Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 229	I'm rimless. It's a risk with all fish though.

08/27/2016, 11:18 AM	#14
HidingReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 259	Finally, a post I can add value to. My melanurus has been in my tank for two months and hes been an angel, he hasn't picked at any corals, or inverts. Having said that I wouldn't risk putting a shrimp in my tank. Also in the 2 months ive had him, hes almost doubled in size, super fat and healthy, but like said above ^ every fish is different. Also I would put a screen top, again I wouldn't risk my fish's life try this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aq...4-netting.html

08/27/2016, 12:46 PM	#16
Jwfish13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 15	Mine has been great, hasn't touched my shrimp or any other livestock in the tank including coral. I agree mine loves nori as well Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

08/27/2016, 01:46 PM	#18
hartin461 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: northeast Posts: 145	Got one that decimated my red bugs in no time. He is an adult male and has beautiful color. He has tilted a few of my corals on the sand bed either searching for bugs or looking for a soft spot to call it a night.Other than that he makes a nice addition to my tank.

08/27/2016, 02:33 PM	#20
degibson84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 2,393	I have a Melanurus and a yellow coris that both pick at my CUC.

08/27/2016, 09:28 PM	#23
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I like mine & she doesn't bother any corals but she does go after most of my inverts. She usually goes after the smaller snails but I do catch her flipping over a conch every once in a while. She did bite a leg off of one of my brittle stars that is about 4 or 5" but that only happened once & I have had her for about 2 years. I've heard of them going after clams but I have a 6" maxima that she has never bothered. Like I said, in my case I just can't keep any ceriths or nassarris snails.

08/27/2016, 11:07 PM	#24
AnselnEdie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 68	Mine's never bothered any corals and he gets along fine with my cleaner shrimp. He does very occasionally pick on snails or hermits a little, but no big deal. He cleaned up all the flatworms and makes short work of any pods I put in. __________________ Tank Info: 10g IM Fusion, 2 o.clowns, yw goby, tiger pistol shrimp

08/28/2016, 05:00 PM	#25
Adam G Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 208	Plus 1 on them being jumpers. Better have a lid or net of some kind. Beautiful fish though. Mine never bothered anything coral or fish. __________________ If reefing was easy, everyone would be doing it! Current Tank Info: 150g Miracles Rimless, AI Hydra 52's, Tunzes, & tons of Anthias!