Radiant wrasse, Bailey's pod show  1/18/06 Dear WWM Crew, <Belinda> :) It is with a heavy heart I tell you I found our beautiful radiant wrasse dead in the tank today.  My guess is he died a day or so ago.  I am not sure why as he had been coming out regularly and was eating. Although he did not stay out all day he was coming out almost every day.  I did notice that when we saw him out last he was swimming sort of humped, with a humped back and I was afraid something might be wrong.  Any ideas? <Not a great answer, but "cumulative stress" likely> I really hate it as we have a yellow wrasse that really liked him.  At least I think it is a yellow wrasse - it is yellow on top white on bottom, with pretty green horizontal lines at his head and tail.   <Likely Halichoeres chrysus...> We would really like to get another one or similar for him because he became really excited and would try to get him to swim with him constantly. Looking on www.liveaquaria.com site it looks like they have a yellow wrasse, a neon wrasse, a Hoeven's wrasse, and of radiant wrasse that looks in the same family as our yellow and white wrasse. <See fishbase.org or WWM with the scientific names...> Do you have a suggestion as to which might be a better friend? <Many choices>   We have tried to pair up as much as possible.  Our sailfin tang and bicolor Rabbitfish seemed to have really hit it off and constantly swim around together. Also have you ever consider doing a radio talk show called "aquarium talk" - something like "car talk" :) <Yes... is done by two (quite) old friends, Nevin and Tom Bailey... and of all things, they live in the same town (San Diego). I should contact them to see if they have a spot. Bob Fenner> Thanks so much, Belinda

Has This Wrasse Passed? - 12/12/05 Hello all: <<Howdy>> Happy Holidays to the scholars of the deep! <<Mmm, more like "students"...but thank you.>> One week ago, I acquired a H. hortulanus and introduced it into the display tank after performing the precautionary acclimation procedures. <<No quarantine eh...>> The lights were turned off upon introduction.  The wrasse immediately swam to one of my live rock stacks and has not appeared since. <<Not atypical behavior.>> I realize that these wrasses bury themselves in the substrate, but I would think that I would have seen it after one week. <<One might think so, but I have a Macropharyngodon meleagris that has stayed buried/out of sight for more than a week at a time on more than one occasion...only to pop up again and resume browsing/hunting as normal.>> I was discussing this with a fellow aquarist and he volunteered the following hypothesis that he had read in some periodical.  The theory is that since these wrasses bury themselves so deeply within the substrate, they penetrate into the anaerobic portion and consequently are consumed by the bacteria and/or waste materials in the substrate. <<Um...if this were true, would they not be extinct in the wild?  Do you not think there are anaerobic bacteria on/in a reef/the reef floor?  I don't think is your issue.>> I would appreciate your feedback, as if this is the case, then my days of purchasing Halichoeres wrasses are over. Thanks, Mitch   <<Fear not Mitch, the Halichoeres genus are quite hardy (and personable) for the most part.  If the wrasse was not doomed from the start (poor collection/transport/handling) then it could pop up soon.  Though do be aware, your specimen will grow to be a bruiser at 12 inches.  Regards, EricR>>

Wrestling With A Wrasse!  9/22/05 I am considering getting a Radiant Wrasse to combat a problem with the Montipora Nudibranchs.  I've heard many reports of great success with these wrasses, and they are gorgeous fish. <Yes they are! I love Halichoeres species, and the H. iridis is one of my very favorites! They are a bit touchy, however, and I have known several people who have not been as lucky as I while acclimating them. Take it really slow and be sure to quarantine them carefully.> Only thing is, I worry about my cleaner shrimp (2) and my jumbo Tongan Nassarius snails in particular, and the other snails and hermit crabs in general.  What is your experience with these fish and their behavior towards these animals?  Thanks, Joel <Well, Joel, these guys have relatively small mouths, but they can and do pick on small snails. In fact, I've had other Halichoeres wrasses (H. melanurus, in particular) that have taken an almost sadistic dislike of snails, literally bashing them out of their shells before dispatching them! Generally, these guys are well behaved, but smaller shrimp, fanworms, and snails are potential snack items if the fish feels so inclined! I certainly feel that the potential risk is worth it for their utility and sheer beauty, but you'll have to make the final call. Good luck with this wonderful fish! Regards, Scott F.> Weird unexplained wrasse problem!  9/19/05 Hi WWM crew! <Samuel> I have used you archives many times in the past and they have never failed me, thanks for that! <Welcome> This time, I have found a few cases similar to mine but none were resolved or followed up!!! (uh-oh) I have a wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) I think it is also called a Tailspot wrasse? <Yes, one common name> I have had it for 18 months or so and someone else had it prior to that for a year. I have never had any problems with it but recently introduced a bicolour angel straight into my tank after my quarantine tank sprung a leak after only a week of the angels quarantine. The angel is great (if a little shy and reluctant to take food amongst other fish) But my wrasse has several problems. It seems to have its mouth permanently half open and constantly head butts the front glass with its mouth (no visible damage yet!) But I have seen it quite a few times spontaneously shaking quite violently - one time for a few seconds (very distressing for me and him!) <Not good> It has also had some unusual swimming patterns - up and down up and down in the same spot. It is eating as piggishly as ever and still buries at night. There are no visible signs of disease or parasite within 4 - 5 days of the behaviour. My only thought is some internal parasite but I thought they usually affected appetite! AHH Help me please! Thanks so much crew! <Much more likely a degenerative condition born of nutritional deficiency... I would quickly start supplementing its foods by soaking in a prep. like Zoe, Selcon... Bob Fenner> New slippery dick wrasse  9/12/05 We just picked up a juvenile slippery dick wrasse yesterday and put him in our quarantine tank (after a two hour acclimation period).  He immediately went to the bottom and was laying on his side breathing heavily but not gasping. <Not atypical... this is a very active species, that in shipping, runs out of oxygen easily> He would go upright but then slowly sag to the side again.  He eventually made his way into one of the pvc pipes where he spent the night. He is still there this morning, still on his side and still breathing rather heavily but not gasping.  Should we be worried about this behavior?  I know they like to bury themselves in the sand but had not heard about them lying on their sides like this. Thanks for your help, Sally <Need to be moved expediently, packed with oxygen (which also exerts an anesthetic effect)... in the dark... acclimated quickly... Hopefully yours will make a full recovery. Bob Fenner>

Hiding Christmas wrasse  9/5/05 Hello Everyone, <Hello>         I bought a Christmas Wrasse  on Friday. They had just gotten there shipment in an hour ago from Hawaii. When  I saw him he looked really healthy and active. I bought him and put him in  my 55gal. tank as my last fish. He swam around for about 15-20 minutes I  went away from the tank for a few minutes and when I came back he was gone. I do  have 25lbs. of live rock so there are places to hide. I have checked around the  tank and I know that he didn't jump. The tank is covered with crushed coral over  an undergravel filter. The crushed coral is about 1cm. in diameter with   lots of small shells in it.  This is the third day of hiding. I haven't  seen him since about 8pm.EST on Friday. I don't have any overly aggressive fish.  When I put him in none of the fish were really bothering him other than the  usual new tankmate curiosity. Thanks for your help <It's disturbing to hear from someone that purchases a fish without knowing all the requirements.  Wrasses like to burrow in the sand at night, not crushed coral, it's a little rough on the skin.  Please search "wrasses" on the WWM and read. James (Salty Dog)>

Re: Hiding Christmas wrasse  9/7/05 I usually do lots of research on a fish before buying it. But I had a hard   time finding any information on it. I did know that it is reasonably easy to   keep and gets about 6". I completely forgot most wrasses like to bury   themselves. Mainly because I have a blueheaded wrasse and he doesn't bury  himself.     Do you know if sand would work with an undergravel  filter? <No, if you have live rock the UG isn't needed.  They are also potential nitrate factories if not cleaned regularly.> I was wondering if it would clog it. I still have not seen the wrasse.  Is it normal for new additions to hide for this long? <Very possible.  Try keeping the lights off for a few days, it aids in their ability to adapt.  Also, please reply to the original message in the future so we  know where to direct the mail.  James (Salty Dog)> thanks for your help  <You're welcome>

Checkerboard wrasse? 7/7/05 Hello, just have a quick question. I have the opportunity to purchase a checkerboard wrasse,  I was wondering if it was reef safe, mostly coral and clam safe. < Yep, sounds safe to me.  It may pick at some small inverts but overall a very safe fish. > The wrasse is 4 inches long right now and would be goin into a 135 gallon with 150 pounds of live rock. are they finicky feeders? < I don't believe so.  Having lots of quality live rock will certainly help, and really any balanced foods will be fine. > and I have a 2 inch six line will this be a problem? < Should not be a problem in a tank that size. > I understand the wrasse gets to 12 " and I'm under stocked on fish right now. < So far I think you would be fine.  If it ever gets that big you can  get rid of it later, but that would be years down the road. > <<I'd rate Halichoeres wrasses as "medium" in the reef safe category... RMF>> thanks a lot Tristan <  Blundell  >

Stocking A Super Reef Tank (Cont'.) Hi Scott, I'm so excited!  Today I added 3 Canary Wrasses to the tank. <Awesome! Great fish that can really add some color, personality, and excitement to a tank!> The LFS ordered them in.  All ate at the store and were swimming out in the open.  Apparently 3 more were hiding in the sand.  I brought the outgoing ones home, gave them a 5 minute fresh water dip and put them into the tank. The dip is good procedure, but do try quarantine next time...> To my surprise, they all simply started swimming in the water column.  They never hid in the sand or the rocks.  So far, 5 hours later, none of the fish seems bothered by the change.  The new wrasses are eating off the rock and ate some homemade fish food.   <Great to hear. They really are a pretty perfect reef fish. At night, they may bury themselves in the substrate for protection, but they will typically remain out in the open all day.> They're a beautiful addition and seem very gentle.  It was the perfect suggestion. <I'm really glad you like them! They'll just become more and more attractive and outgoing as they settle in.> Thank you!  Next fish is a Lyretail Anthias when a nice one shows up at the LFS.  Nancy <Keep me posted, Nancy! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>