Melanurus Wrasse?

[KillerReef]

I'm researching the rest of my fish list and came upon the Melanurus Wrasse. To me, it reminds me of the Lunare Wrasse(bottom pic), but it is reef safe. I have seen them look fantastic like the one below and boring as the one in the Live Aquaria link. Does anybody have any experience with this fish? Any home pics? thanks, Dave
Melanurus or Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/other/150303marine_wrasse02.jpg
Live Aquaria (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+2285&pcatid=2285)
Lunare Wrasse
http://www.exoticaquatic.com/lunarewrasse.jpg

[stevensun]

I love mine! He would flip the snails over sometimes if any of them didn't go hiding after the lights are on but no snail has been killed by him. I'm not sure how safe he is around shrimp since I don't have any shrimp in the tank. I'd say it's a pretty hardy fish and eats everything including the giant amphipods I have in the tank, which is a huge plus for him. Mine is hyper active and mild mannered; never bothered his tank mates even the threadfin cardinals. Oh, he also keeps my sandbed well stirred. :)

[KillerReef]

do you have any pics of yours? thanks...

[Jeff]

I dont have any pics of mine but I really like my Melanurus Wrasse. It reminds me of a Christmas Wrass. Mine is very reef safe and it's nice knowing that it will devour flatworms if I ever get any.

[96gts]

Here's a pix of mine. Mine will also flip snails over sometime like stevensun said. He's the biggest fish in the tank now, but he doesn't bother any other fish. He's in 90gal tank with a Fairy Wrasse, Ornate Leopard Wrasse, Midas Blenny and a Clownfish. He eats anything I put in the tank, and is very active throughout the day.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4082754815_f58e44d8c6_b.jpg

[KillerReef]

cool thanks for the replies. I'll have to put them on my OK list...

96, how big is yours?

[stevensun]

Here's mine. The pic is a bit blurred but it's really hard to take a good pic of him.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/letsgo2thezoo/60G/Fish/MelanurusWrasse.jpg

[KillerReef]

looks big, how big is yours/

[96gts]

cool thanks for the replies. I'll have to put them on my OK list...

96, how big is yours?

Mine is pretty big about 4-4.5".

[stevensun]

Mine is pretty big about 4-4.5".

So is mine.:D

It won't grow big. The mature size is 5".

[KillerReef]

cool thanks for all the info, guys, appreciate it...

[hlem]

is this a Xmas wrasse? if so, mine doesnt bother anything, just fly around all day until i drop food in the tank, he eats pellets, flakes, frozen, anything. easy to keep

[KillerReef]

nah, that's the Halichoeres claudia, but thanks for the info, those arre cool, too...

[SirToppemHat]

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae128/SirToppemHat/June09005.jpg
Great reef fish. Eats like a champ

[WestTexasReefer]

Agree with all of above. Great looking, easy to care for active fish. I have cleaner and fire shrimp and mine doesn't even look at them.

[KillerReef]

thanks for all the info guys especially about the cleaner shrimp being okay...

[gawf4fun]

I'm not sure if this is a melanaurus or a christmas wrasse, but great fish regardless. Eats well, very active, haven't seen him take out any inverts, ...
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq255/gawf4fun/Christmaswrasse-1.jpg

[KillerReef]

i'm thinking that looks like a melanurus, but i'm no expert, so not for sure...

[kilmca]

Looks like you are already sold on the fish. My only recommendation is to get a male, they are more colorful. The one i have has been a great fish. Doesn't mess with any inverts i don't want it to including cleaner, fire and peppermint shrimp.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3006358830_a17f0ff0af_b.jpg

[KillerReef]

Looks like you are already sold on the fish. My only recommendation is to get a male, they are more colorful. The one i have has been a great fish. Doesn't mess with any inverts i don't want it to including cleaner, fire and peppermint shrimp.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3006358830_a17f0ff0af_b.jpg

yes i think i am. i'm not adding anything live to my tank for a few months, but eventually i plan to add 3-4 more fish, so trying to get my research done early. Thanks for all the help, and yes from wht i can see the males are much more colorful...

[MO Will]

Do these fish require a sand bed? I currently have a BB reef

Will

[KillerReef]

Do these fish require a sand bed? I currently have a BB reef

Will

everything i have read says yes, they like to sleep in it or bury when threatened...

[WestTexasReefer]

yes the bury in the sand at night

[LKGRenegade22]

I have one about 5" and he is one of my favorite fish in the tank. They are constant hunters and are always looking for food. Mine has not touched any inverts of my shrimp or snails but has taken a liking to asterina stars which is fine by me. He also has almost wiped out all my bristleworms.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o44/LKGRenegade22/100_0746.jpg

[Algae Growwer]

Need to know if I get one of the Melanurus Wrasse if you think it will be reef safe .Found some flatwrms in sump want to get ahead of them also have six line wrasse want to put him in display.

[rkelley_10]

Def reef safe. Only concern is with ornamental shrimp as they might find them tasty. As with every fish, it's more of on an individual basis. I have a melanurus and two cleaner shrimp without any problems. This guy is a workhorse. Eats all parasites. He's a funny guy, goes to bed early and sleeps in. Such a beautiful fish.

[KillerReef]

not sure how it will do with your 6-line as i have heard those can be buggers with other wrasses, but from what i understand, the melanurus is reef safe... HTH

[gkimble]

How can you tell the difference between this wrasse and a male blue leopard? I have a female blue star and am trying to find a male to pair them up.

[klasiksb]

here is a picture of my first one, great fish
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/klasikb/malanaruswrasse1Medium.jpg

[bumpbailey]

I have had my Melanrus now for about 3 months. Beautiful fish. Unfortunatley I can not substantiate the claims that they eat the flat worms....my tank is still riddled with them.

Curious to the compatability with oter wrasses. I had a 6-line and a pencil wrasse prior to introducing the Melanarus....both are gone now:mad:

[96gts]

I have had my Melanrus now for about 3 months. Beautiful fish. Unfortunatley I can not substantiate the claims that they eat the flat worms....my tank is still riddled with them.

Curious to the compatability with oter wrasses. I had a 6-line and a pencil wrasse prior to introducing the Melanarus....both are gone now:mad:


I have an Ornate Leopard, Solorensis, McCosker's and Cyanopleura with my Melanurus in a 90gal. The Melanurus gets along fine with all of them except my Cyanopleura doesn't get along well with the Solorensis.

[Algae Growwer]

Def a preety fish!

[KillerReef]

I have had my Melanrus now for about 3 months. Beautiful fish. Unfortunatley I can not substantiate the claims that they eat the flat worms....my tank is still riddled with them.

Curious to the compatability with oter wrasses. I had a 6-line and a pencil wrasse prior to introducing the Melanarus....both are gone now:mad:

sure that you don't have a lunar, they can be PITAs from what i hear...

[vicent2008]

I am looking for buying one to get rid of the flatworms in mi tank

hope it's worth it

:worried:

[jeffeg]

Would this sand be suitable for a wrasse that burrows like the Melanaurus or Leopard?

http://www.marinedepot.com/CaribSea_Dry_Aragonite_Special_Grade_Reef_Sand_Dry_Sand_for_Saltwater_Reef_Aquariums-CaribSea-CS0020-FISSDS-vi.html

[96gts]

Would this sand be suitable for a wrasse that burrows like the Melanaurus or Leopard?

http://www.marinedepot.com/CaribSea_Dry_Aragonite_Special_Grade_Reef_Sand_Dry_Sand_for_Saltwater_Reef_Aquariums-CaribSea-CS0020-FISSDS-vi.html

I think these should work, they are listed as 1.0mm-2.0mm. I'm using the Fiji Pink, which is listed as 0.5mm-1.5mm.

[bumpbailey]

Definitely a Melanarus Wrasse. Bummed that I lost the pencil wrasse..... six lines are a dime a dozen. Just wish it would start eating the flat worms.....

Can anyone out there tell me what wrasse that was on the cover of the latest Drs Foster & Smith catalog?

[KillerReef]

Definitely a Melanarus Wrasse. Bummed that I lost the pencil wrasse..... six lines are a dime a dozen. Just wish it would start eating the flat worms.....

Can anyone out there tell me what wrasse that was on the cover of the latest Drs Foster & Smith catalog?

I'm pretty sure it was a hawaiian flame wrasse. I don't have the latest catalog, but is this the same one?
catalog? (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/pr/c/3578)

[bumpbailey]

I'm pretty sure it was a hawaiian flame wrasse. I don't have the latest catalog, but is this the same one?
catalog? (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/pr/c/3578)

Killer,

the image did not show up when I clicked your link. just took me straight into the catalog.

[bumpbailey]

My own research has determined the the wrasse on the cover of the DFS catalog is a Feminus Wrasse....incredibly beautiful fish. Definitely on my wish list!

[Ralph ATL]

here are some pics of my wrasses.

[KillerReef]

My own research has determined the the wrasse on the cover of the DFS catalog is a Feminus Wrasse....incredibly beautiful fish. Definitely on my wish list!

you're right, i wasn't looking at the cover of the catalog...

[falconut]

Bringing back on old one. Does anybody know if they bother clams? I have a 4" blue Maxima.

[Luwe2008]

Nope, I heard theyre actually beneficial to them because they eat snails that are harmful to the clam.

[38bill]

The LA photo shows a juvenile. That's just what mine looked like when I bought it. Now its lost the spots and its fully colored, looks just like the other photos. They are reef safe and mine has been just fine in a BB tank for over two years. Great fish, always on the move.

[falconut]

38bill - I was worried about QT in a BB, but it seams I may not have to worry after reading your post. Where does your wrasse sleep?

[KillerReef]

Bringing back on old one. Does anybody know if they bother clams? I have a 4" blue Maxima.
I have a 6" maxima and a 3" crocea that it has never bothered. As stated above, it is a myth, IMO, because they do prey on the pyramidellid(SP?) snails that are harmful to clams, so they more protect them than harm them. It does look like they may be harming tham as they pick at the shells, but mine have shown no ill effects.

The LA photo shows a juvenile. That's just what mine looked like when I bought it. Now its lost the spots and its fully colored, looks just like the other photos. They are reef safe and mine has been just fine in a BB tank for over two years. Great fish, always on the move.

True, juvenile or female, it is the males that get the great coloring, here is a couple pics of mine.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/Skidazl/Melanurus/IMG_0962web.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/Skidazl/Melanurus/IMG_0961web.jpg

[falconut]

True, juvenile or female, it is the males that get the great coloring, here is a couple pics of mine.

Don't all juvenilles have the muted coloration and they color up as they grow? Or are you saying the only the females have the muted coloration?
Is your wrasse a male, based on the great coloration? I thought they both looked the same as juveniles and adults colored up, just with males getting a little more coloring.

My LFS says they have a few 3" ones, probably juveniles. Is there anything I should look for to get a male?

[milkman55]

Here is my Melanurus Wrasse. I have had him about 5 weeks. The LFS in my area do not carry them and I had to special order. He is a great fish and gets along great with about 14 tankmates including a Mystery and Sixline Wrasse, which also get along fine with each other.

[38bill]

I have 9 different wrasses in my bare bottom 215 and they all just sleep in the rocks.

[bluerexy]

is there any difference in the sexes other than the color? is the female more aggressive? just wondering before I buy one. Thanks in advance!

[KillerReef]

as far as behavior goes, I don't believe there is a difference...

[bluerexy]

Thanks! hopefully my LFS gets one in tomorrow! (fingers crossed)

[LKGRenegade22]

Since this has gotten bumped and I posted in it earlier I think I should update my post.

I have since gotten rid of my big male melanarus. He started eating snails and wiped out all but 1 of the 25+ peppermint shrimp I had. I still kept him around until he started killing my clams...and NO he was not flipping them over looking for pyr. snails...he was flipping them over, ripping the foot out by shaking them like crazy and eating the insides. I watched him kill 2 ORA maximas before he got the boot.

He went from model citizen to complete terror in 1 year.

[KillerReef]

sorry to hear that...

I've had no problem with mine and clams, hopefully it will stay that way...

[falconut]

I picked one up at my LFS. It's about 3" and it's patern is similar to the LA photo, but definetly more coloration. He's in my QT tank and has eatten frozen mysis and hikari pellets.

[KillerReef]

cool, you'll like it, keep us posted...

[Clams55]

Do you think they would be safe with a Pistol Shrimp? Little tougher than a Peppermint.
And do you think this sand in Original Grade would be appropriate:http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+16764&pcatid=16764

[Clams55]

Anybody??????? (who knows something about wrasse ;))

[MCCOOL]

That sand looks fine...

I have no idea about the pistol shrimp, I've never had one.

[mystery_reef]

will be fine with a pistol. just make sure not to drop the pistol in the tank when first introduced like a piece of food.
im curious on the different varieties of melanarus?

[KillerReef]

will be fine with a pistol. just make sure not to drop the pistol in the tank when first introduced like a piece of food.
im curious on the different varieties of melanarus?

exactly what mystery said, put the shrimp in in the dark and place it in. Maybe it won't go after it, maybe it will...

Only one variety of melanurus, but the juveniles look much different than the adult males, really boring as a juvy, but much cheaper. If you're patient, that is the way to go, just have to wait a while for the awesome colors

[Clams55]

What are the odds? If it is a given that at some point the wrasse will go after the shrimp, I don't want to stock both of them. What about snails? (Turbos/Nass./Cerith)

[KillerReef]

I have had no issues with my turbos and my melanurus. It has taken out some of my hermits, but not all. I don't have any nassarius or cerith because I keep my tank too clean to keep them alive, but I would think they would be fine too since they burrow into the sand.

As far as shrimp, I don't have any right now because I have 4 wrasses and that would be an expensive lunch if they decided to go after them, but have never had any since the wrasses so I can not speak from experience.

[FSU3NOLES28]

Would really like to add one of these to my tank eventually.

What clean up crew can I get that shouldn't be effected if I do get one? I'd rather not spend the money and potentially harm any little guys if they are just going to be eaten for dinner by such a beautiful fish.

Thanks guys.

[KillerReef]

I have hermits and nassarius snails that are not bothered by them. The trick for the hermits is to put them in a hidden place on the rocks when the fish are asleep...

My fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp have not been bothered by him either...

[ryanrid]

at what stage/size would they turn from juv colouration to adult?
I recently go a 3' one which looks like the LA pic so not sure if female or just juv.

These fish are not readily available in aus so i jumped at the chance to grab one when i saw one.

ALso i have no problem with it in a BB QT tank which it is sharing with a 6 line wrasse and a royal gramma.

[DaFishHead]

:):) He started eating snails and wiped out all but 1 of the 25+ peppermint shrimp I had.

Agreed.

I put three peppermint shrimp in and they were dead before they hit the sand. My Melanurus Wrasse ate all three!!! in one helping. My wrasse is about 6.5". He has been in a tank for three years. I don't know how old he is but he is big.

Live fine with a six line.
Very reef friendly.
He will turn over a sail so my snails only come out at night.

He has been a good fish. But if he starts acting up any more he will end up as breaded fish stick in the oven! :)

[MCCOOL]

I keep a long spine urchin and a few Mexican turbo snails for a clean up crew. He has yet to eat the turbos, but I wouldn't put it past him.

[saltyfishlvr]

Sad, I had a Melanurus on my list until I read the last few posts. They are beautiful. I want peppermint shrimp in my tank for aptasia control, but having them sure narrows down the fish wish list.

[Bernie21]

Ive had mine for about a year. He is about 4" and a great citizen. He is one of the most active of my fish. One of the alphas, but not quite a bully. I have him in my Reef along w 3 Blood Shrimps, 4 Scarlett's, 2 CBS, and PB Lobster. He doesnt mess w any of them. Some times Ive seen him go after those worms though.

[LKGRenegade22]

While mine pretty much wiped out my peppermint shrimp he never touched any of the cleaners and fire shrimp I have. But now that I think about it I did have a few smaller pistol shrimp that disappeared while I had the melanarus along with my 2 small conchs.

[dja1980]

I just picked one of these up last night... been looking for awhile to keep my Planaria population in check. My LFS sold him to me for $20 because he has a small injury on one of his sides. I'm hoping I can heal him up pretty fast... Rod's Food should do the trick.

I started doing a little more research on this fish this morning when I couldn't find him last night an hour after I added him to the tank... thought maybe he jumped, but it looks like he probably just buried himself in the sand. I'm hoping I will see him again within the next few days.

Is there an easy way to distinguish between the males and females? Mine is still somewhat small, so I would assume he/she is still a juvi. Based on what I've read, I'm hoping I have a male, but I don't know what to look for.

[vlad17]

I just got mine 2 days ago, knocked over one of my brains already and seemed like he wanted to burry my plate coral, should I be worried?

[KillerReef]

I just got mine 2 days ago, knocked over one of my brains already and seemed like he wanted to burry my plate coral, should I be worried?

Probably just hunting for pests. Mine knocked over a clam of mine, come to find out it was hunting pyramidal(sp?) snails. I wouldn't worry. Mine has never bothered any corals other than hunting...

[blennielove]

I'm trying my second one within the next week. He's been in a tank by himself at the LFS for three weeks now. I'll be quarantining him in a 20 long for three weeks before placing him in my display. No dips this time, just passive quarantine and treat if needed.
The display has been consistent with the same fishes for a LONG time, should I introduce a couple of fishes to distract the excitement or one should be fine.
He is going into a 225 gallon reef with Atlantic Blue 8", Powder Blue 4.5", Kole Tang 4", Emperor Angel 5", pair of clowns, flame hawk, starry blenny, coral beauty 2.5", and cleaner wrasse...very active tank but I think the halichores species should fair better than the fairies...I've lost too too many fairies in that tank!

[KillerReef]

I would think he should be fine. As long as you have enough sandbed for it to hide in, it will bury itself in the sand and come out when it feels safe. They are very friendly fish, ime, but I have heard they can handle themselves, too.

After QT, I always use an isolation box inside the tank because my purple tang harasses all new fish. I would recommend the bigger the better with the fish you have...

[lilalove]

I've had my melanurus for almost 2 years now. I don't know if it's male or female, but it is the most nervous fish in the tank. It hides every time I walk up to the tank, buries itself for bed early, and is the last to wake in the mornings. Consequently, it misses a lot of feedings but is still as fat as ever. It did kill a couple of nassarius when I first got them, but none since. I also have a bunch of cerith, turbos, and Mexican turbos. I attribute its shy behavior to living with a canary wrasse that would pick on it all the time. Who knows, but it's a pretty fish. I wish I saw it more often. I don't know about shrimp, as I also have a hawkfish so that's a no can do. Good luck, these guys seem to be quite hardy.

[blennielove]

Thanks KillerReef and Lilalove!

It seems that everyone has a much easier time when it comes to wrasses than me, but hey, I got lucky with my Cleaner wrasse, Christmas wrasse, and Possum wrasse! Not to mention a Lubbocks who's lived through it all!

But in all honesty, the current wrasse list is only a small fraction of what I've tried! I'll take it slow and keep my fingers crossed!

[KillerReef]

Well, my hats off to you for being able to keep a cleaner wrasse. I have tried a number of times with no luck. They always ate well, too, just a few weeks after I got them, they always end up dead. It is one of the few smaller fish I have added that my PT does not harass...

[blennielove]

I honestly believe that I got really LUCKY with that cleaner wrasse!
I've had him three years now and for most of the first year and a half he was exposed to all sorts of "remedies" for crypt. He then lived through a true hypo-salinity at 1.008 for four months (which was how I finally got rid of my crypt and kept all my fish). He is a champ when it come to food, he eats the algae sheets, mysis, chows down on Ocean Nutrition formula 1/2 pellets/frozen, looking into rocks for little munchies and checks the fishes out while doing flipper massages all over them!

After I learned about their dismal survival rates, I would never recommend one as they DO NOT eat crypt, so...(I know that I may be treading on thing ice here but it's what I've learned).

[CarlitosReef]

Would having a Melanarus Wrasse in a 55g frag tank bare bottom be a problem? The wrasse is about 4" long.

[aandfsoccr04]

yes that would be a problem. Wrasses need sand on the bottom because they sleep in sand. I have heard of people putting a tuperware container full of sand in QT tanks so maybe that could possibly work but I'm not sure. Someone with more experience would have to chime in here before I recommend it.

[SchnitzelReef]

those are sweet fish...think they will get along with a yellow corris wrasse?

[CarlitosReef]

Good info anyone else willing to chime in for ideas to get away with it.

[rysher]

i got a melanarus for 24hrs.
brought him home from lfs, swam around and started hunting, ate a couple nassarius the first day.
the next morning, the melanarus chased my yellow coris and nipped it.
i brought him back to the LFS.
i snail eating i cna live with, i can always replenish it, but attacking the yellow was another story.

[jakearoe]

Just said goodbye to my Melanarus in my 120 this morning. Beautiful fish, but here is the quick story:

1) Began nipping at Deresa mantle...moved calm to another tank.

2) Ate his way through most of my snails other than the biggest turbos

3) Took out both my cleaners, which meant the end.

I found a 300g for him to go to, and there he went this morning. He did well with other fish, including two other wrasses. My .02 is that they are great fish for sure, but you may wake up on any given day to an unpleasant surprise.

I still have a 3 inch Mel in my 90 at the office, he has been fine, but I watch him closely.

[KillerReef]

I had mine with a yellow with no issues, and the yellow was added after the melanurus. But he did take out my shrimp population...

Jake, did it actually cause damage to the clam, because they are pest hunters and it was most likely nipping at pests, ie pyramid snails(sp?). Mine does that all the time with no ill effects to the clam, it also got rid of my zoa nudi population...

[RealReef7]

mine is a total a hole, he bullys any fish smaller then him!

[jakearoe]

I had mine with a yellow with no issues, and the yellow was added after the melanurus. But he did take out my shrimp population...

Jake, did it actually cause damage to the clam, because they are pest hunters and it was most likely nipping at pests, ie pyramid snails(sp?). Mine does that all the time with no ill effects to the clam, it also got rid of my zoa nudi population...

Yeah, he was nipping right at the mantle, I watched him do it several times as the health of my clam declined, and had to pull or the clam would have died for sure.

The clam is in my office tank happy as a.....:beer:

[KillerReef]

:beer: glad to hear the clam is ok. I guess just like with Angels, they're hit or miss...

[Korrine]

Just goes to show there are many faces of this fish :) Mine was about 4" long. I sold all my fish to a local guy when we were selling the house and I took down my tank. She was gutted by a six line in a 125! She was with peppermint shrimps, which mostly came out at night when she was sleeping anyway.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/kj23502/sw%20tank/PB150341.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/kj23502/sw%20tank/P2050326.jpg

I wouldn't recommend this fish w/out sand unless it has already lived without it. When I first got her and put her in QT she was swimming around nose down on the bottom of the tank trying to bury. I put this tupperware in and she found it pretty quick. I think she stayed there almost a week, if I remember right. It was quite a while!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg200/kj23502/sw%20tank/009-2.jpg

[blennielove]

Yippi!
I have had mine little girl Melanurus since Tuesday! I got her from Liveaquaria and asked them to ship her in an extra large bag and she arrived beautifully. She is in a 20 long quarantine. She is eating like a champ and slept in the first day but has been very consistent on waking up around 10:00 and going to bed around 8:30. The quarantine has a pile of sand in one corner and she will go there. Otherwise it is filled with chaetos and rubble for with lots of copepods for her to graze on during the day.
She is alert and will come to me when I'm in the room to beg for food.
I am thinking about treating her with prazipro but am hesitating because she is looking good.
Any thoughts on prophylactic treatment with Prazi?

[Korrine]

Go ahead and treat with prazi. Won't hurt at all and it's a good preventative.

[KillerReef]

Prazi is a very good prevenative measure, Just be very careful with prazi as it is possible to overdose. Follow the directions closely...

[Jimmyg77]

Yes definitely keep a sand bed they go to bed early. Ive seen mine eat bristle worms and flat worms, pellets, flake and frozen. Hasnt really bothered snails but got fat quick

[TX_Punisher]

So just found this thread.

I found my prized gold torch closed up recently and after some research and a dip I found some sort of flat worm attacking it. After some reading, the melanarus may eat some of these flatworm species? I have a coris and carpenters in the tank doing well and I hope they get along as I will be picking one of these up soon.

[nereefpat]

Yes, melanurus will eat flatworms. What kind of coris wrasse, and is this in your 750 xxl?

[OrionN]

My Melanurus. I have had him for about 2.5 months. He colored up quite a bit and his tail start to have a pattern.


2.5 months ago
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=394945&stc=1&d=1534906163


1.5 months ago
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=394944&stc=1&d=1534906163



A few days ago

http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=394943&stc=1&d=1534905446

[mav.23]

Looks like you are already sold on the fish. My only recommendation is to get a male, they are more colorful. The one i have has been a great fish. Doesn't mess with any inverts i don't want it to including cleaner, fire and peppermint shrimp.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3006358830_a17f0ff0af_b.jpg

females turn into males I believe

[Reef Bass]

I had an exceptionally beautiful male Melanurus who was with me for several years. He was a magnificent beast and a great scavenger. The day I saw him at the LFS he pulled a bristleworm off a frag and slurped it down like spaghetti. He and my flame hawk were not the best of friends. They would never damage each other, but one would occasionally rush the other if it got too close.

[OrionN]

My Melanurus 6 months ago.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=394945&stc=1&d=1534906163


Here he is today:


http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=398720&stc=1&d=154681

[crawlerman]

I must have a rogue malanurus. I've had him a few years and he ate every hermit crab but one big one, every snail except one big turbo, ate a harlequin, 6 peppermint and a cleaner shrimp. If i put hermits in he eats them as fast as he can. Still a great fish, never bothered any fish, just wish I could have a CUC other than asterina starfish (won't touch them).