Is the Lunare Wrasse Reef Safe?

[Circa]

I am interested in keeping a Lunare Wrasse - Thalassoma lunare. And I was wondering if they are reef safe? There is one fish that is in my lfs, and it is just amazing! The colour up close in real life is undescribable, the fish is just so cool.

Can anyone comment on this fish overall, how it gets along with other fish? And if the fish will not eat coral and such?

Thanks, btw pics would be great!

 

[davelin315]

NO! They're very aggressive and get large. I had one years back in a fish only and he was in the habit of tearing the bellies out of other fish. Also, they will knock your stuff over as they try and hide and burrow. Very mean fish.

 

[Ray Pollett]

They also eat snails an on occassions I've seen them attach hermit crabs.

Ray

 

[AlexS!]

OK:
I had a lunare wrasse for about 3 months. It is a great fish, as far as colors. It didn't bother any of my fish, or corals. But man, did he love my snails and hermits!!! Didnt have anyleft after him :-(

 

[purple_tang2001]

Ill be the exception to the 2 other posts, My lunar could be no more calm,I have a harder time with my tomatoe clown than my wrasse.

 

[Circa]

Thanks guys, the specimen that I saw was in great health. And it looked very calm, and was in a reef tank.

But eating snails? I wonder if this is worth having the fish? I hope to here some more experiences from people here.

Thank you so far for the comments...

 

[Wookaka]

My lunare picks at the pods and such in the rock. Not good for a reef. Plus they bury themselves in the sand at night to sleep which hurts the live sand bed.
I've also heard the snail thing before but haven't personally witnessed it as I don't have any snails in my FO. I do have hermits but haven't seen any aggresion there but then again my wrasse is small, about 2 inches.

 

[JennM]

Definitely a no-no. If it doesn't cause problems yet, it will eventually. You can't bury their instinct to eat small crustaceans and snails.

They also like to carpet surf if your canopy is open at the back or whatever, it will eventually go overboard!

All that genus is not recommended for reef tanks.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

Nope.
Ate all my snails and hermits.

Also ripped the face off my coral beauty.

He went back to the LFS.

-Laura