seabird wrasse eating snails/crabs?

[dsfdbutterfly]

I have to tell you that I too found out the hard way that bird wrasses eat the clean up crew. I proudly purchased some hermits and brought them home. Once in the tank I got to sit and watch for the next 1 1/2 as my bird wrasse consumed the most expensive meal (at one time) that I had ever feed him. I was so depressed and my husband didn't know what to do with me. Unfortunately you never know when these guys are going to strike and it's not likely that you will ever be able to keep your tank stocked enough to keep it clean. Or you will constantly be stocking the tank for his/her enjoyment. This fish are good for fish only or FOWLR tanks but don't usually find their way into reef settings for that matter. Hope this helps.

Lynn, your male/female pair are beautiful by the way. I bet that you enjoy watching them play together.

Angie

[unleashed]

thanx angie.they are very active fish mine never hide the male is always doing his shimmy dance for the female .as for clean up crew i have a few fish that like the snails and crabs alike as snacks so yes restocking as always nessesary.normally i would never reccomend a bird wrasse for a reef tank.but my tanks are def not the norm.i expect and accept having to restock clean up crews as im used to keeping fish that eat them.

[dkode]

i was trying to get this guy out of the tank just now and its almost impossible to get him!

everytime i try to get him in the net he darts off underneath the rocks.

is there any trick to catching him in the net?

[graphixx]

you can try and put a little good in the net and hold it still. I am not sure if that wrasse buries when he sleeps (alot of them do) but you may try getting him at night with a flashlight.

[dsfdbutterfly]

I don't recall mine ever burowing in the sand like a lot of wrasses do but that's not to say that at times he didn't. He was however very talented at hiding in the rocks. My suggestion would be to leave the nets in the tank without you around. This allows the fish to get use to them without thinking that they are only there for catching. I always use more than one net to catch my fish. This method takes more than one day but saves me from taking apart the tank. Every time you feed you have to place food around the net and even in it. If you have an especially shy fish though there is no guarantee that even this will work. Sometimes there is never any solution but tear down. As a side note they are good sleepers. You may be able to do a surprise attack at night after the lights have gone out.

Angie

[dkode]

thanks for the tips, i think i will try what you suggested as I would rather not tear out all the rocks

thanks guys!

sean

[lReef lKeeper]

how is the trapping going Sean ?? i talk to a friend of mine at a LSF about this same fish and he says they either eat snails or they dont. just depends on the particular fish you get. if you have another tank it would be cool in a FOWLR tank.