Pygmy waspfish

[mallorieGgator]

Are these fish reef safe? Are they ok with smaller fish like a possum wrasse?

[snorvich]

Other than being eaten by them, the other fish won't have any problems. Ambush predators, eat fish, shrimp or whatever fits.

[namxas]

There's no such thing as a "pygmy" waspfish...they're all small (3" - 4" range). Additionally, they have very small mouths, and they're bottom dwellers so they're pretty safe with other fish (they normally feed on small crustaceans). The "pygmy" thing must be salesmanship.

I'm guessing you've been looking at the redfins on DD? They're great little fish, but I do recommend weaning them in a QT before they hit the DT.

[mallorieGgator]

Greg- thanks. The redfins are what I was looking at yes. :) I saw one for sale at a LFS labeled as Pygmy. Thanks for clarifying.

[namxas]

The red-fins are more attractive to most peeps, but for a really awesome, gentle fish, the cockatoo waspfish is my fave. Fortunately, we never had to choose "either/or"... ;)

[curlykid]

Greg, how big is your female now? you've had her for awhile right?

[namxas]

We have one that's a bit >2", and another that's about 1". Our male is a good 3".

[curlykid]

nice. I would love to keep a harem.

[namxas]

The 1"-er is chillin' in a HOB fuge growout "tank" with our almost 1" dwarf stingfish (Minous pusillus). She's a real chow-hound tho and it can be tuff to get the food to the stingfish, who is just getting the hang of it.

Oddly enuff, the stingfish has mimicked her coloration and from a distance, it looks like there are TWO little redfins in the tank.

[curlykid]

wow, just looked up the fish, looks cool. can't imagine it being that small! They can mimic colors? you should put a yellow tang in there! lol

[namxas]

I don't really know if its "true" mimmicry or not, mostly because I've never seen another live specimen except in a You-Yube vid from Japan. However, it sure seemed odd that the stingfish took on the same coloration as the wasp...

That being said, we've been really fortunate to have most of our fish really "color-up" for us.