Larger wrasses safe with smaller fish?

[Felixc]

I currently have a pair of Royal gramma and a pair of Black cap basslet. I am thinking of adding a large wrasse to the tank, something like a Harlequin tusk or one for the Thalasomma species. I don't have any inverts to worry about. My concern is with the Tusk as it get larger and may prey on the littler ones. Does anyone have the Tusk in the same with smaller fishes?

[Yunachin]

I have had a Tusk before but he was not able to be housed with any smaller fish. He would not hesitate to eat them. Thalasomma aren't as aggressive but might prey on the smaller ones when you least expect it. I had a lunar wrasse with a bad attitude towards anything smaller than him.

[mattsilvester]

Respectfully, I disagree with Yunachin. In my opinion, Thalasoma wrasse are about as mean and aggressive as wrasse get. They will harass anything that takes their fancy, regardless of size, util it is dead. They are also pretty vicious, and are one of the few fish that will eat tankmates bigger than bite size.... i.e. if its twice the size of its mouth, it will simply tear it in half.

Covnerserly, while there will always be acceptions, the Tusfish has a reputation for being "relatively" quite mellow.

But to be heonst, I would be relutant to put either a tsukfish or a thalasoma wrasse in a tank with anything that is likely to be eaten...... and I'm afraind royal gramma's certainly fall into the "likely to be eaten" catagory.

NOTWITHSTANDING the above, there are smaller thalasoma wrasse, such as Thalassoma lucasanum which would be less of a risk..... but "generally" when I refer to Thalassoma wrasse, I mean the brutes such as Thalassoma lunare, Thalassoma lutescens, etc.

If you had a specific species in mind, it might be easier to give specific advise :)

HTH

Matt

[SDguy]

I have to agree with Matt, that my (limited) experiences with larger Thalassoma species wrasses has been the same. They are aggressive, and eat just about anything they can fit in their mouth....and then proceed to smash against rocks, anything they can't fit :eek2:

[Felixc]

Many moons ago, I had a lunare wrasse that was only 3" and remembered that it was a pest to most of the fish in the tank. Very likely that is the reason why most people don't add them to reef tanks. :( Too bad for their temperment, they are such gorgeous fishes. I also had a Tuskfish once and remembered that it wasn't as nearly active and aggressive as the Thalassoma. However feeding behaviors were very similar.

Would it be accurate to said that the Harlequin Tusk and most of the Thalassoma sp. have very similar feeding behaviors (eats anything that fits and smash it to smaller bits if it doesn't). With the differences of the Tusk been a little placid and less aggressive towards other fish.

The two I had in mind are Thalassoma quinquevittatum and Thalassoma pavo. When adults, these fish are some of the most spectaculars in the reef. Any thought on these two?

[Yunachin]

Oh no...lol
I wasn't meaning that they were not aggressive. Just not as aggressive as the tusk I had. I agree whole-heartedly about their aggression and maybe should have worded it better.
I have had some nasty lunars and bananas in my time. :)

[2dawghouse]

I have a 4" gold bar for about 6 months (gorgeous fish), and he has been a great neighbor to everything including a neon wrasse, percula clown, royal gramma, and a school of green chromis

[mattsilvester]

I can't say I know from experience, but its looks as though Thalassoma quinquevittatum is a smaller and less "lunare" like wrasse...... and as such 'may' be a bit more companionable, and less risky for your application. Thalassoma pavo on the other hand looks very "lunare" in nature, is probably bigger, and would probably be a terror.

Any of these wrasse are potentially going to be problematic, nipping at other fish if not outright bullying / killing them......

In short - I wouldn't personally. The lunare is in my top 5 all time favroutie fish, but I would not have one again, and i have a 240 with 4 tangs and an angel...... they are just too much of a wild card - im my view - for my own peace of mind....

HTH

Matt

[2dawghouse]

Yeah, I had a lunare once...ONCE, and I agree with you, will never have one again. He could probably give a undulate trigger a great fight. But my gold bar (Thalassoma hebraicum) has been great. Of course he is last item in the tank and I feed the tank 3 times a day (small feedings), but no problems from him what so ever.