Red Coris wrasse, comp., stkg./sel.     7/27/12
Hello guys and girls,
<Hi Steve, Jordan with you this morning.>
 I have doing a bit of research on the wrasse family and one fish in particular the red Coris wrasse (Coris gaimard ). It's a beautiful fish and one that I would have always liked to have in my aquarium but I have read many reports that they can either be peaceful, semi aggressive and even aggressive and destructive,
<I would categorize them more as semi-aggressive. They will not go out of there way to attack like some triggers but they will stand there ground.
Inverts will be eaten on sight, as well as smaller fish. The destructive characterization is somewhat accurate. They are a large strong fish that are constantly on the hunt for invertebrates and often flip or undermine rocks in there search, inadvertently causing a "rock-slide".>
 then I read they can be relatively easy to care for then another report will recommend them for only the expert aquarist,
<I would not list them as an expert only fish but they are not appropriate for all tanks. Firstly, they grow quite large. Mature adults can reach a very powerful sixteen inches, capable of uprooting very large rocks. A deep sandbed is a requirement that cannot be overlooked. They should be housed with other large boisterous fish.>
 all very confusing stuff, your web site has never steered me wrong before so if anyone can give me any info on the minimum tank size for an adult,
<"Adult" can be a fairly generic term in the fish world. C. gaimard which has just gained it's adult coloration can be housed in a four foot tank but tank upgrades are going to be a constant. Catching this fish for upgrades can be difficult as it will shoot into the sandbed as soon as it feels threatened. I've seen a few adults over twelve inches in length and all were housed in tanks at least eight feet in length.>
temperament and the experience required for keeping this fish it would be greatly appreciated.
<A beautiful but large fish. Read more here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/coris/gaimard.htm?h= >
Thanks
<Welcome>
Steve
<Jordan>

Happy With the New C. gaimard >I have picked up the gaimard, she is certainly beautiful and quite active.   >>Aren't they just gorgeous?  All those good looks, from juvie to maturation, and in a hardy, easy-to-keep package, too.  Really doesn't get much better than that. >I do have a good, smooth substrate already (as I had anticipated burying fish, like worm gobies, eventually making their way into my system).   >>Excellent, I love it when folks plan ahead.  You are really going to enjoy this newest addition. >I think you are right about them being able to eat sufficient amount of food, they are very fast. >>(Chuckling) NO KIDDING!  Now, just wait until you have to try to CATCH the little bugger! >Thanks again Marina.   >>You're most welcome, Reuben, I (we) gain our greatest rewards with success stories.  Truly, this is what it's all about. >I can totally understand the hardships involved in correcting e-mails, even those that are grammatically sound.  Keep up the good work, I know many aquarists are extremely grateful. >>Thanks for understanding.  I feel bad, busting people's chops, but each and every day we get reminders that this site is global in its reach, and especially for non-native English speaking people, picking things apart can be quite difficult.  This makes the goal of providing the best possible information more difficult, because for some folks trying to understand may be too daunting.  Collectively, we all thank you for your understanding on this, everyone's understanding.   >Reuben >>Take care, and do enjoy this little fish.  Marina

Coris wrasse on Pyramidellid snails hey, thanks for answering my question.  By the way, I have another question.. I hope you will answer it to. How good is Coris gaimard in eating Pyramidellid snails? Do you know its rate of feeding? per minute or per hour? if you don't know, I hope you can give me an approximate. I'm just curious. Thanks to all of you! more power! God Bless! <Raf> < again Coris wrasse not your best choice for removing the snail. Coris wrasse may eat them  but not for sure. Better off with Sixline or fourline Later MikeH>
Re: Coris wrasse on Pyramidellid snails hi. thanks for bearing with all my questions. but I have one more to ask, what I'm trying to actually do is to know the feeding rates of these wrasses on any food that they eat (not specifically Pyrams, since u said that it's not a good choice). do u have any idea as to what the trend in terms of feeding do theses fishes have. any rough estimate to how quick they can consume a certain amount of food within a given time frame. thanks a lot for all the help:) <depends on how hungry the fish is, how big the fish is, what kind of food it is, is it living in the wild or in  captivity there are to many things to give you even a ballpark answer Thanks Mike H>

Coris gaimard - 46 gall a Tight Squeeze - 7/14/03 Dear friends: <cheers, bub> I am planning on purchasing a juvenile Coris gaimard. I've done much research and your website say it's a hardy specimen. <true with heed of specific needs: sugar-fine sand 3-4" deep minimum, several daily feedings (3+) for juveniles for their high metabolism, low and long tank big enough (100+gallons)> However, two different e-tailers (LiveAquaria & MarineDepotLive) have designated this fish as a: "delicate shipper and "Expert Only," and we cannot guarantee it after arrival. As an Expert Only species, we recommend that only the expert marine aquarist, zoo, or research institution should purchase this species". <understood and agreed... indeed they are sensitive to shipping like most wrasses. Hence the hardy once acclimated bit <G>> Why the conflicting remarks/observation? <shipping versus husbandry... two entirely different matters.> I've a F.O. 46-Gallon Oceanic bow front. Livestock include a pair of Chrysiptera cyanea, a Chrysiptera hemi-cyanea and a Cirrhitichthys aprinus. All are small in size. <no matter... this tank really is not suited top a C. gaimard for even the short run... adult size is over one foot long (35 cm) and keeping them in aquaria so small not only will shorten their adult size/potential... but likely their life. Not recommended for a 46 gall tank... let a small one grow out in a larger aquarium and spare the stunting> Please advice and thanks in advance. Best, BC <best regards, Anthony>