Questions about Velvet Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus sp.)

[Rin]

Reef update: The fish in my 75 gal reef were recently wiped out. One by one, my fish were overtaken by complications resulting from a recent ich outbreak. Only the Purple Tang is left. With the other 3 fish I tried Kyolic Garlic and cleaner shrimp, but it was too little too late. They died over a two day period after a 3 week battle with the ich. The tang wasn't looking good, either, so I fished him out and put him into the quarantine tank and started the copper treatment over the weekend. He's looking better. I just need to keep the water quality good, which is not as easy as I thought it would be.

Anyway, I'm going to let the main tank go fallow for the next 2 months and then I'll be ready to restock. Here's what I want to add:

2 True Percs--Every tank should have clowns of some kind. It's just the natural thing to do.
1 male plus 3 female Velvet Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus sp. exquisitus, punctatus, rubromarginatus, or solorensis)

I have a few questions about the Velvet Wrasse. Will they be reef safe? Will these fish eat my snails or crabs? Are there any special considerations to make with this fish? For instance, I know they like shade. Anything else? Can they be easily propagated? Does anyone know where I can get females? I also want to add a clam, will it be compatible or will the Wrasses pick at it?

Thank You,


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-Todd
'Only the corrupted can recognize true innocence for what it is.'

[Biomanjcs72]

All I can remember about them is they like to bury themselve in the sand.

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JCS
"Take one and pass it back, just like your IQ's were normal."
-Professor Hathaway in the movie"Real Genius"

[Rin]

Not good. That alone will disqualify them for my tank. Can anyone confirm that?

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-Todd
'Only the corrupted can recognize true innocence for what it is.'

[FishKid]

i thought all wrasses bury themselves at one point or another.. ?

mark

[Rin]

You're probably right, Fishkid, I'm just not thinking straight today.

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-Todd
'Only the corrupted can recognize true innocence for what it is.'

[Ninong]

Rin ~

I plan on getting a male Cirrhilabrus scottorum for my 120-gal reef tank. I might even get a pair. We just had a thread of these guys a few weeks back: http://www.reefland.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001007.html

I believe that the other members of this genus would have similar traits to C. scottorum. Which means they should be reef-safe. At least Scott Michael thinks they are: "They are great fish for the reef aquarium. The only invertebrates they may bother are small, delicate shrimp, like the anemone shrimp (Periclemenes spp.)."

They do form a mucus cocoon at night but I don't believe that their "burying" tendencies are nearly as bad as say a Coris gaimard. I do not think this would be a problem.

All of your questions are answered in my post in the linked thread. Unfortunately, the pics that vasubandu posted of his pair of C. scottorum seem to have expired. They were gorgeous!

Regards,

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

[Rin]

Now that you mention it, I remember the post. Thanks for the reminder.

I would have done a search for the information except that I haven't had much luck using the engine lately so now I've given up on it entirely.

I've seen pics of C. scotturum. Amazing fish.


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-Todd
'Only the corrupted can recognize true innocence for what it is.'

[Duncan]

Todd,
I am a really big fan of the cirrhilabrus wrasse in a reef. These wrasses are quite harmless when speaking of eating smaller inverts such as shrimp and hermits. But as usual there are always exceptions when referring to "rules" with marine fish. I have the jordani, cyanopleura, and the scottorum in my new 300 and all are doing great. As far as the burying in the sand goes, well as is the case with MOST of the cirrhilabrus wrasses, they do not burrow. As usual IMHO. HTH.

Duncan.

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Please tread lightly on the reefs of the world.
Visit my world at http://duncansrealm.homestead.com

[vasubandu]

Todd, Ninong asked me to post a reply because I have spent a lot of time trying to answer the same questions. I have a 180-gallon fish and live rock tank with a few corals. I have had a male and female Scott's Fairy Wrasse for about a month now. They live with a collection of angels, butterflies, clowns and tangs.

In my tank, they have been absolutely “reef safe.” They have left the Xenia and soft corals alone, and do not seem to bother my snails (lots of Nassarius and Trochus) or hermits. I have not seen them pester anything.

As for special considerations, they are extremely active and sometimes swim quickly right at the surface of the water. I am sure that they would have jumped by now if they had the opportunity. In my tank, they seem to like areas of open water, but they both definitely use the entire tank.

I have not heard that they like shade. Mine show no indication that they prefer the darker areas of the aquarium. I have halides and vho, so my tank is pretty bright.

Propagation is an interesting question. I understand that they require a tall column of water and have not been able to find any references to successful captive breeding. That may be due in large part to the unavailability of females. I was exactly where you are; I wanted a harem. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find even a single female. I have to say that the female is a beautiful fish in her own right, and I do not understand why no one collects them, especially with the ratios in the wild. I got mine from North Coast Marines on a hot tip from Ninong. The only other place I have seen females or pairs is www.themarinecenter.com I have ordered from them and had mixed results, but they have always made things right. Search their name for a variety of comments. In any event, I could never find a harem.

Not sure about the clams. Mine are the most aggressive feeders in my tank. When I feed, they zoom in and get the first bite. If they decided that a clam was food, it would be gone. In my tank, it is not an issue.

These are extraordinary fish. Email me if you want to continue to share information.

[vasubandu]

Almost forgot. Mine do create a mucus cocoon, but I have never seem them bury themselves in the sand.

[Rin]

Fantastic! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] As my tank gets closer to being restocked, I'll definately look you guys up. I did a pretty exhaustive search on a lot of the online fish merchants...no advertised females. I may have to pick a reputible one and place a special order. That's not going to be cheap.

I really like the look of the Wrasse, I just never seriously considered it before because most are not reef-compatible. It's nice to know that the best ones are.

Thanks for your help, guys.

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-Todd
'Only the corrupted can recognize true innocence for what it is.'