Flasher and fairy wrasse, do they eat flatworms etc?

[Killamanjaro]

I’m looking to add 2-3 flasher wrasse and a red velvet fairy wrasse, but I’m curious as to if they will eat bristleworms, flatworms and other parasites like other wrasses do.

I read a lot about how people use six line wrasse and other wrasse in their frag tanks to take care of corals and keep pests at bay, but I can’t find much about flashers and fairy’s in regards to pest control.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Fairy and flasher wrasses will not help with flatworms. They eat from the water column rather than pick.

 

[evolved]

Fairy and flasher wrasses will not help with flatworms. They eat from the water column rather than pick.

+1

They will only eat flatworms if those worms are swimming or otherwise free-floating in the water column.

 

[Killamanjaro]

Yeah I thought so. Can you guys recommend any wrasse that will take care of that job that isn’t a mystery wrasse or a six line wrasse.

I was looking at a melanurus wrasse and a blue striped tamarin wrasse. The tamarin wrasse would be a dream fish for me but I’ve not yet seen one in real life and it’s expensive, the melanurus I’ve heard will go after CUC.... is this right or am I safe with a melanurus wrasse?

 

[ChiCity]

Yeah I thought so. Can you guys recommend any wrasse that will take care of that job that isn’t a mystery wrasse or a six line wrasse.

I was looking at a melanurus wrasse and a blue striped tamarin wrasse. The tamarin wrasse would be a dream fish for me but I’ve not yet seen one in real life and it’s expensive, the melanurus I’ve heard will go after CUC.... is this right or am I safe with a melanurus wrasse?

Pink Streaked Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia.)

 

[evolved]

Can you guys recommend any wrasse that will take care of that job that isn’t a mystery wrasse or a six line wrasse.

Consider a species of the Halichoeres genus.
Check this out when you have a bit of time: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.259894/

the melanurus I’ve heard will go after CUC.... is this right or am I safe with a melanurus wrasse?

Sometimes, but usually not to the point of decimation. It varies by individual specimens; some are fine.

Pink Streaked Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia.)

That's also a decent alternative.

 

[HairyGary]

Yeah I thought so. Can you guys recommend any wrasse that will take care of that job that isn’t a mystery wrasse or a six line wrasse.

I was looking at a melanurus wrasse and a blue striped tamarin wrasse. The tamarin wrasse would be a dream fish for me but I’ve not yet seen one in real life and it’s expensive, the melanurus I’ve heard will go after CUC.... is this right or am I safe with a melanurus wrasse?

H. Chrysus

 

[Labridaedicted]

H. melanurus are great at eating flatworms. They will also slowly pick off cuc if not well fed. When I had my trio, I was ordering cuc pretty much every 3-4 months

 

[Killamanjaro]

Thanks, gonna have a look at the species mentioned.

 

[David S]

Yeah I thought so. Can you guys recommend any wrasse that will take care of that job that isn’t a mystery wrasse or a six line wrasse.

I was looking at a melanurus wrasse and a blue striped tamarin wrasse. The tamarin wrasse would be a dream fish for me but I’ve not yet seen one in real life and it’s expensive, the melanurus I’ve heard will go after CUC.... is this right or am I safe with a melanurus wrasse?

My Melanurus took care of amuld infestation of red flatworms in no time.
As far as inverts; never bothered my red legged crabs or my snails.
I should qualify that, though, as my snails usually come out in the evening when my Melanurus is in the sandbed.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I have observed my female C. cf. pylei pecking at the frag rack and rocks on occasion. I don't believe it's a huge habbit, but it does it from time to time. Only one I've observed doing this. She seriously demolishes LRS, with the rest of my wrasse.

 

[Emerson]

I have a Yellow Coris Wrasse that adds nice color and is always picking at the live rock. In my case, has never gone after any corals, inverts or other fish.

 

[dedragon]

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[BTimms]

Fairy and flasher wrasses will not help with flatworms. They eat from the water column rather than pick.

What wrasses will pick and eat pests?