About the Ornate Mediterrenean Wrasse

[Adamas]

Is this fish Reef Safe ?

Did someone have or had in the past this beautifull fish ?

 

[Anonymous]

Halichoeres ornatissimus are reef safe as far as corals go but may eat bristle worms, feather dusters, snails, hermit crabs, etc. All species of Halichoeres bury themselves in the sandbed so a fairly deep bed is needed and at about 6" they can make a mess spreading fine sand particles all over your rock and corals. I've kept them in a FOWL tanks previously.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Adamas]

Oh really thanks for your info davidmohr. So they are good to have in a reef tank right ?

The bad thing is that they will eat my turbo snails etc right ?
Hmm this is not nice for sure..

 

[Anonymous]

The fish pictured is a Thalassoma pavo, not a Halichoeres wrasse. It will kill fish, shrimp, crabs, just about anything, and they are extremely aggressive. They are not fish you want to add to a reef tank.

 

[Adamas]

What a pitty. It is really a nice fish.
Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

It's a shame they're so damn aggressive. When they're full grown they'll attack pretty much any fish added after them or smaller than them. Triggers, lions, eels, etc. make great tankmates. The upside is that they are extremely bold, easy to feed, and hardy. If you do want to get a Thalassoma wrasse there are some much nicer looking species IMHO.

 

[Adamas]

Thanks Matt for your great, detailed info. I really appreciated it.
I live in Malta, near Sicily in the middle of the mediterrenean sea and I can see all these fishes when I go swimming and they are awesome.

Just thought if I can catch one and put it in my reef aquarium but like you said it is not reefsafe if it will attack my snails and other fish.

Thanks

 

[Adamas]

By the way, are there mediterrenean fish that can be kept in a community reef tank ?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Here's a good place to start:

http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/Fish ... ve_code=13

You can ignore any species that are under the decription of 'pelagic' or 'bathydemersal'. I would check out the species listed under 'reef associated' and some of the 'demersal' species.

Here's a gorgeous fish that would do great in a community tank, if you could actually collect some:

Anthias anthias

 

[Adamas]

Oh thanks for the link Matt.

About that Anthias, is that located in the mediterrenean sea ?
I saw something like that, very similar, but the under fins were shorter not that long.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, those are a Mediterranean fish.